Students face two serious problems at the end of every semester: stress and anxiety. With finals week looming in the distance, how students handle stressful situations could affect their physical and mental well-being.
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, 40 million U.S. adults suffer from an anxiety disorder, and 75 percent of them experience their first episode of anxiety by age 22, making anxiety disorders one of the most prevalent mental health problems on university campuses.
Information frm the Anxiety and Depression Association of America suggests anxiety disorders begin as early as college for many people. The University of Mississippi has many programs designed to aid students who are having trouble coping with stress. (Graphic by: Clara Turnage)
T. Davis, a health educator in the department of Campus Recreation and Health Promotion, said stress and anxiety don’t solely affect students’ school work or social life, but can also hurt a student’s mental, physical and emotional health. Davis said the psychological response to these issues is the weakening of the immune system and affectation of sleep patterns and concentration.
“Students experiencing bad stress should seek assistance because chronic distress can and often does affect one’s health to include mild sickness to cardiovascular disease,” Davis said.
There are a number of places on campus students can go to receive help with their stress and anxiety. These places include the Student Health Center, the University Counseling Center and the Psychological Services Center.
Each location provides students with guidance and resources.The Counseling Center has an entire webpage entitled “Self Help,” through which students can guide themselves with relaxation exercises and audio tracks.
Kelly Peck, a psychology professor and a worker at the Psychological Services Center, said it is important that students learn more about these issues and how they can get help for them.
“I think it’s important that students are aware of what resources are available to them,” Peck said. “There are a lot of really good therapists on campus and a lot of graduate students who are really capable with helping students deal with this stuff.”
Peck said moderate amounts anxiety are not a thing people have to try and get rid of or fear. Everyone just has to learn to handle them, said Peck.
“What we see with stress and anxiety is not so much the stress level that is harmful, but how you interpret it,” Peck said. “It’s what we do with those feelings, what we do with those thoughts, what we do with those sensations.”
Sandra Bentley, Student Health Center Pharmacy operational director, said students that don’t find healthy outlets for stress often face repercussions.
“Students that have not found healthy ways to reduce stress place themselves at risk for other health conditions,” Bentley said. “Oftentimes, students find unhealthy outlets to manage stress and anxiety. Everyone will have stress at some point, but it is how they handle stress that determines if it is serious.”
Junior music education major Amelia Bailey said,0 for her, time management is a good way to help eliminate stress. She said students should just do something that takes their mind off of the stress such as going for a run or just watching TV.
“Make sure someone knows about your stress and be able to vent about it,” Bailey said. “Don’t bottle up anxiety. It just makes things worse on yourself. Surround yourself with people who will strive to build you up.”
Robin Street, a public relations professor, had some great advice for how students can reduce their own anxiety if they don’t have time or can’t seek a counselor.
“Stress and anxiety are just going to be a normal part of exam week,” Street said. “One thing I personally do to handle it is exercise, and exercise has actually been proven to lower stress and anxiety levels. It seems counterintuitive—instead of spending an hour studying to spend an hour taking a walk or a jog— but it really can reduce that anxiety and help you be able to come back and concentrate better.”
