By JESSIE OWENSBY
Staff Writer
“I’m so stressed about this test coming up that I can’t even sleep. I’m literally losing sleep over it.”
Ring a bell? It should. According to a mental health study by the Associated Press, “Eight in ten college students say they have sometimes or frequently experienced stress in their daily lives over the past three months.”
College students go through a lot, especially freshmen. This is a transition period in our lives. We are moving away from home, making new friends and leaving old ones. We are getting out of our comfort zones, studying harder and facing new peer pressures. We are feeling pressure to make good grades, act responsibly and some of us are maintaining jobs as well.
The feeling of being overwhelmed can become immense and ,in turn, causes stress according to Psychology Today.
It’s not all bad though. According to the National Institute of Health or NIH, small amounts of stress are good because it can help you get things done. Stress is a normal feeling that happens to everyone.
Have no fear, Piedmont. There are several things you can do to help relieve stress without spending too much money. You don’t even have to leave your room, although it is recommended that you not isolate yourself from the rest of the world. Junior criminal justice major Mallory Leary said: “I like to go tanning or running. A little bit of ‘me’ time goes a long way.”
The NIH suggests taking breaks from your work. Schedule leisure time, and try to balance fun time with work time. So you don’t get bogged down in the work. Kaitlin Norman, senior biology major, said, “I like to go watch a baseball game or go chat with my roommate.”
The NIH also said, “Try learning to make things with your hands, playing an instrument or listening to music.”
Denyse Vincent, director of the fitness center and recreational activities, recommends attending a yoga class. The combination of stretching and breathing exercises relaxes you and raises your endorphin levels, which is the hormone that makes you feel happy. Yoga classes are offered Mondays at 7 p.m., Tuesdays at 12:05 p.m. and Fridays at 12:05 p.m.
According to the NIH, what relieves stress is not the same for every person, so you have to find what works for you. Do not let stress get you down.
If you need someone to talk to about your stress levels or life events that have impacted your emotions in any way, please contact Emily Pettit, the director of career and counseling services at [email protected].
Stress symptoms can be very dangerous to the body. The NIH lists these symptoms as:
• Fast heart rate (which can lead to Atrial Fibrillation)
• Skipped heart beats (which can lead to blood clots)
• Rapid breathing (can lead to hyperventilation)
• Sweating
• Trembling
• Dizziness
• Loose stools (can lead to dehydration)
• Frequent urination (can lead to dehydration)
• Hard time focusing or feelings of being tired
• Losing your temper (can lead to relationship problems)
• Insomnia