Photo submitted by Erica Inalien
With the end of the semester coming quickly, the pressure for success can sometimes be a heavy burden.
For college students these feelings of stress and anxiety can come from multiple places and have long lasting effects.
In a study conducted by the University College of Dublin, one of Europe's leading research-intensive universities, the top five sources of stress found among college students goes as followed; change in sleeping habits, vacations and or breaks, a change in eating habits, an increase in work load and new responsibilities.
These all contribute to unrealistic goals and pressures that young adults put upon themselves, especially those new to the transitional phase from adolescence to young adulthood. In an article posted by the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, it was found that students toward the end of their education cope better with stress than students starting their university studies.
Both studies show that the pressure to obtain good grades and ultimately earn a degree within a four-year time period is a major contributing factor of stress for college students.
If not dealt with properly, this short-term stress can lead to chronic stress, which has a strong impact on mental health and suicidal thinking among students.
When asked “do you know how to handle the pressures of school stress in a healthy way,” most students replied yes and gave vague answers of how they do so such as sleep, and or reading. But a few were honest about not really knowing how.
Sanaysha Young, a junior pre-med biology major said, “I kind of know how to. I do deep breathing or I exercise, but I would love to know new ways to handle stress.”
Sophomore general health science major Jy’Lyah Gray said: “I deal with stress so much that it’s become a part of my everyday life.”
Students can cope with stress by listening to music, talking to relatives or people close to them, resting or engaging in sports, such as cycling, running or swimming.
Students are encouraged to use their university’s resources to combat these feelings such as talking to the Office of Counseling services or attending school events such as Wind Down Wednesdays here on FAMU’s campus.
For more information regarding counseling services and stress relieving tips, contact the Office of Counseling Services at (850) 599-3145.