College Students

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College Students Stress

• Jenny Miller, Ph.D., LP
• CSB/SJU Counseling and Psychological Services

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What is stress?

• An automatic response of the body to a demand
  different for each person.
• Two types of stress
• Eustress
• Distress
• Yerkes-Dodson Law
• Holmes Rahe research

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Small group activity
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Other stressors

• Family issues divorce, affairs, GLBT issues,
  change of home or jobs
• Finances loss of loan, threats from parents to
  stop payment, car problems, job problems,
  gambling/AOD use
• Relationships rejection of friends, break-ups,
  acquaintance rape
• Health injury or illness, chronic diagnosis,
  health of family member
• The future ?????

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Other stressors, cont.

• High school vs. college performance
• Cultural, racial, religious, etc. differences in
  norms/values
• Time constraints/juggling roles
• Time management/procrastination
• Grief/loss
• Identity/self-esteem
• Pre-existing or emerging mental health concerns
• The Big Three (sleep, nutrition, exercise)

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Strengths of students

• Resilience
• Intelligence
• Openness to experience
• Ability to access established support networks
  and/or quickly enhance support system
• Ability to find and utilize a mentor
• Spiritual grounding and/or goal orientation
• Self-awareness, self-care
• Ability to multitask
• Ability to let go of perfectionism

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Physical symptoms of stress

• Heart palpitations
• Headaches
• Sweaty palms
• GI distress
• Skin outbreaks
• Shortness of breath
• Insomnia/hypersomnia
• Sore, tight muscles
• Loss of energy/fatigue
• Change in work/school attendance, performance

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Emotional symptoms of stress

• Moodiness/irritability
• Depressed or anxious feelings
• Loss of sense of humor
• Abrasiveness or hostility toward others
• Nervousness
• Being overly sensitive/emotional
• Withdrawal from others
• Apathy

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Mental symptoms of stress

• Forgetfulness
• Loss of concentration/focus selective attention
• Displaying poor judgment
• Being disorganized
• Confusion, having fuzzy perception
• Lack of interest
• Errors in calculations
• Negative self-talk, decrease in self-esteem
• Thoughts of death or suicide

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How to handle stressed students

• If a student approaches you
• Reinforce his/her decision to talk with someone
• Acknowledge his/her distress
• Be accepting, objective and nonjudgmental
• Try to help student clarify his/her concerns
• Refer to appropriate resources

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How to handle stressed students

• If you are concerned about a student
• Assess level of relationship, your level of
  comfort and sense of responsibility
• Find a private, safe place to talk undisturbed
• Discuss your observations of any changes
• Listen to the students response to your
  concerns, and clarify what youve heard
• Gently but directly encourage him/her to seek
  additional resources for assistance offer to
  help if willing/able

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Resources

• CSB Counseling and Health Education (x5605) or
  SJU Personal and Professional Development Center
  (x3236)
• Free and confidential
• Emergency vs. normal referral
• CSB Campus Security (x5000) or SJU Life Safety
  (x2144)
• CSB Dean of Students, Jody Terhaar (x5601) or SJU
  Dean of Campus Life, Jason Laker (x3171)