Does having three midterms in one day sound familiar? Do you find yourself constantly strapped for cash? Perhaps the fraternity or sorority is just not working out the way you had hoped. Or maybe you find yourself depressed over a fight with your boyfriend, girlfriend or best friend. If you identify with any of these sentiments, you are not alone. In fact, you may be characterized as a typical college student.
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The reality is that almost all students at UCSD find themselves stressed out at times. Life at a major university can be academically challenging, as well as emotionally and physically demanding. A variety of factors contribute to the amount of stress that students deal with, but one main reason is that in college, students are often forced to experience life on a much more independent level than what they’re used to. This transition to college life alone, whether as a freshman or a transfer student, can cause more stress on a person than he or she even realizes. In addition to homesickness, any type of change can leave one feeling uneasy, especially a major change in lifestyle like moving away to college. The general consensus is that dorm food hardly lives up to the comfort of a home-cooked meal, and sharing a room the size of a closet is usually not considered ideal. When you add into the equation the fact that classes are 10 times the size of what one is used to and students are forced to think on a whole new level, the net result is tremendous amounts of stress, including academic, social and emotional pressure.
Aside from the obvious stress that classes impose, some of the most common stresses, according to Dr. Jeanne Manese, director of training at UCSD Psychological and Counseling Services, include finances, work and relationships with lovers, friends and family. These are just some of the most common factors that contribute to the immense amounts of stress that college students face each day.
“”When I work too hard, there is no time for actual fun,”” said sophomore Lisa Kaufman. “”Sometimes I get so stressed and so consumed in my responsibilities that I feel like I am missing out on the fun of a college experience. UCSD is fierce competition against the best students. Sometimes I work so hard for that ‘A,’ but then someone who does not work as hard gets it instead of me. Now that’s stressful!””
Manese points out, however, that although these pressures often feel as if they have a negative effect, stress can be a positive instrument of motivation for many students.
John Muir College Sophomore Senator Jeremy Cogan admits that he does work better under pressure and has produced some of his best political science papers at the last minute.
“”Stress is a fact of life,”” Manese said. “”It is present throughout one’s schooling years and the rest of his or her life. Graduate students experience different types of pressure, often regarding dissertations or career options; but they too feel pressure nonetheless. The trick is not to eliminate the stress in one’s life; instead one must learn to manage it.””
When asked if certain colleges within UCSD or majors are particularly more stressful than others, Manese maintained that the degree of stress students feel varies from person to person, depending on the individual. He said that it is not a college or a particular major that causes one’s stress; it is the manner in which a person copes with stress that is at the root of the problem. Manese also suggested that organization and good time management skills greatly reduce anyone’s stress level, especially busy college students.
What is most important to minimizing and dealing with stress, Manese said, is that students maintain a balance among all aspects of their life. Someone who studies all the time and never socializes is far more likely to experience depression, while a person who parties endlessly and neglects studying is likely to fall behind academically and experience another kind of stress.
College newsletters are even beginning to address the issue of stress and provide easy access to stress management. The fifth-week edition of Muirwords, for example, gave tips for reducing stress in the “”Counselor’s Corner.””
Professionals claim that exercise is another positive and effective stress-reducer in conjunction with eating properly and maintaining healthy nutritional standards.
Fear of the “”freshman 15″” and weightgain causes many young women to feel self-conscious and turn to more serious methods of coping with the pressure to appear attractive to others. Many develop eating disorders, while other college students may turn to substance abuse.
UCSD Psychological and Counseling Services is a place where students can seek help for these types of problems. However, the psychologists who work there encourage students not to wait until they have a serious problem. They welcome all students who wish to work on change and development, discuss aspects of their lives that impose pressure, and who want to learn more about themselves.
Psychological and counseling services also offers personal growth and wellness groups and forums that meet weekly each quarter to address a variety of concerns relevant to college students. This service is a resource psychologists encourage students to take advantage of, and its office is located in Galbraith Hall 190, or you can call (858) 534-3755.
