Counseling provides midterm relaxation
The director of student health services, Alice Loper, said students should communicate with professors about their issues and plan ahead so big exams don’t become a huge burden.
The body perceives stressful exam events as emergency situations. Psychology professor Dr. John Lindsay said increased brain waves are the worst emergency response for test performance.
“If you have a test and think that’s an emergency, the body is going to make that same reaction,” Lindsay said. “The higher the rate of brain waves, the narrower your focus. Test taking is considered a complex task, so you want a broader focus of attention. It’s not like you don’t know the answer, but all the answers are coming at the same time.”
Though stressful classes and exams are important topics, deeper issues are prevalent at GCSU. Counselors deal with students worried about financial problems, break ups and transition issues both as young underclassmen and seniors about to plunge into a volatile, professional world.
Jennifer Strole, counselor and coordinator of outreach services, said part of the week’s purpose was to open peoples’ eyes by showcasing a variety of relaxation techniques.
“A lot of people walk around in a constant state of stress, but it feels like the norm to them,” Strole said. “Part of the reason for outreach programs is for people to learn skills and information to use before the stress is at that crisis point.”
Midterm stress relief activities included music therapy, guided imagery and a blood pressure check. The blood pressure check was the most heavily attended event.
Loper said most students’ readings were normal, but mentioned yearly checkups as a necessity. People with a family history of high blood pressure should be more vigilant.
“Stress is a vicious cycle that can effect every inch of your body,” Loper said. “(Stress) makes any illness worst because you are less likely to recover from the sickness.”
According to WebMD, high stress levels contribute to high blood pressure or hypertension. Because hypertension forces blood against the arteries too strongly, the heart can be damaged over time, eventually leading to heart disease or stroke.
Lindsay and Loper agree on poor sleep habits as one of the biggest contributors to stress buildup. Loper said routine sleep is vital to prevent the body from feeling drained.
For those struggling with stress induced mental states, Lindsay said meditation could help quiet the mind. The Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research said meditation helps clear the mind of distracting thoughts, allowing people to gain new perspectives and ways of handling stress.
Advantages of meditation include becoming more self-aware and helping individuals focus more on the present instead of a growing list of tasks.
Different methods work for different people. Experimenting to find out your best stress escape mechanism could help improve the quality of everyday life.
Strole said stress is crossing the line when it spurs distressful anxiety and depression. Emotional outbursts, appetite fluctuations and social withdrawal can be signs life is getting out of control.
“Don’t be embarrassed because everybody on campus is dealing with some kind of confusion or struggle. No one is exempt. It can be a sign of maturity that you’re seeking (help) out as opposed to there being something wrong with you,” Strole said.
Campus resources are available for students searching for direction. Strole said students have to take initiative to seek out the available support.
“Maximize the resources available to you. This is the only time in your life you will get free therapy,” Strole said. “Don’t look back and think, ‘I wish I had done this or tried that or talked to that person.’”
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Mar 13 2009. Filed under News.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0.
You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
