College Student Stress Relief

Stress for most college students can be divided into three phases. The first phase is their freshmen years. This phase is characterised by the sudden change is their status as a person. Before college, they had lived under their parents roof ,by their parents rules and, largely, the responsibility for providing for their material needs was down to their parents. With college, the potential freedom is unlimited but so are the responsibilities. Both can be great fun and act as a motivation to the individual, but they can also be a cause for great concern and stress.

The individual is quite vulnerable and niave and can make right and wrong choices about how to enjoy these freedoms and how to act responsibly in society. The ways to relieve theses concerns are to provide support networks for the student. Many colleges will have unions where students can talk to union representatives and fellow students, that have a few more years experience of college life. This can be a good source for support, as the student may be unwilling to discuss stressful issues of a personal nature with their parents out of pride or embarassment.

If the student wants an adult perspective or a perspective on the academic side of college they can talk to lecturers. Often lecturers will be able to provide guidance to students on how to approach their studies or whether they should change courses.

Clubs and societies in college can give the student an outlet to try new activities and learn new skills. Clubs can give a student direction and meaning if they feel overwhelmed by the options available in college. They can also be a source of new friendships and a way to develop relationships and interpersonal skills. Clubs and societies can help to defuse stress induced by too much studying.

As the student becomes more established in college, they enter the second phase and begin to concentrate on their studies. This can lead to stress from over studying, hitting deadlines on papers and presentations or exam cramming. The stress of passing exams and not flunking out of college will also be felt.

Common relief for this kind of stress is not to get too wrapped up in the studying. College should be about life education and not just a specialised field of knowledge. Be conscious of having a balanced life that includes work and play. Go to parties, go to concerts and have some fun. If you study too hard your subconscious will be thinking about partying, if you party too hard your subconscious will be playing a guilt trip on you for not working. Get the balance right. If you struggle to get the balance right then look to your peers for a model on how to find this harmonious work/play relationship.

The final and third phase is when the student is about to leave college. The stress that might be experienced is looking for work, going to interviews, potentially relocating and leaving friends. The stress of entering another new world. As the student did before, as a freshmen, they should not be afraid to seek advice from those that have gone before. If you are accepted for a job and don't know if it is the right choice, ask to speak to former graduate employee. If you are relocating, speak to tourist help lines or study the internet about the area. Dealing with the stress of the unkown is get informed. This will limit the amount of unknown and relieve worry and stress.

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