By Paul Deschenes
Guest Writer
M. Scott Peck opened his book “The Road Less Travelled” with this sentence: “Life is difficult.”
I want to borrow from Peck and say that college is difficult. It can be stressful for students as they transition into adulthood, often leaving behind a support system they have known for years.
First, the things that your mother told you are true. You should eat your vegetables, get sleep, exercise and spend time with God on a regular basis. These often are the things neglected by students.
A lack of healthy self-care skills can lead to a slow downward spiral. The energy needed for academic tasks may wane, the ability to focus and concentrate may decrease, a sense of well-being may fade and a student may then feel overwhelmed.
But many things can be done to pull out of the downward spiral.
You have to take care of your body because your emotions, coping skills and academic performance are all affected by your health. Exercise is one of the best natural remedies for relieving stress.
Also, decrease your caffeine intake if you are an avid Coke or coffee drinker. Your brain needs good nutrients to function, so maintain a healthy diet.
Proverbs 23:7 tells us “As a man thinks, so he is.” So begin to pay attention to your thinking as well.
Are you a worrier? Are you negative, pessimistic or self-critical? This kind of thinking triggers the stress response. This results in a weakened immune system, uncomfortable feelings and, overall, less energy.
Try to catch yourself as you start to worry, and replace the worry with something different.
You can tell yourself that bad thing you are thinking about may never happen or that God will take care of you no matter what happens. You may want to say a prayer or remember an encouraging verse or scriptural truth.
A student may have an automatic default setting that sends his thoughts in the negative direction. Be patient. It may take time to retrain your thinking.
In addition, taking care of your spiritual needs is vital in reducing stress and maintaining psychological health. Our faith speaks to issues of concern to students: A need for direction, fear of failure, concerns about money and concerns about the future.
God does not promise an absence of stress or problems.
However, God does promise the resources to cope and endure. If God can create a galaxy, he can surely take care of us and our concerns.
Daily time with God can help keep our focus on him rather than on the difficulties of life. As we meditate on God’s Word, his truth can move from head knowledge to heart knowledge. We can begin to experience hope and peace in a chaotic world.
Finally, do not do this alone. We were created to be in community. Share your struggles with a trusted friend or mentor. Be an encourager to others and have some fun.
Overall, learn to give things to God. He is able to meet your every need.
Dr. Paul Deschenes is an associate professor of psychology and director of counseling services.
