Stress and College Students
Being a college student is an exciting time in your life. Being in a new city, meeting new people and learning about topics that interest you, for the most part. But transitioning into college may also feel overwhelming and lonely at times. Especially for students who are the first in their family to attend college, or for those that are far away from home. I remember this was a difficult transition for me personally. Being the first in my family to leave home and being in a city that was vastly culturally different from the one I grew up in made for some conflicting emotional responses. I felt happy to be connecting with new people and places, but I felt lonely and guilty about having moved away from my family too. It was difficult for my family to relate to what I was going through because none had similar experiences.
It’s because of my personal experiences that I enjoy working with college students. I understand the need to talk to someone about feeling left out of family events, about academic struggles, about the challenges of cultural differences and explore the ways your own beliefs now differ from those of your family. As a therapist, I help students explore their past coping skills and look at whether or not those are still working for them. I am a non-judgmental ear that will join clients in the challenging struggles of being a college student. It’s humbling to see students bravely explore the ways in which they are growing and maturing and processing trauma with courage seeking to find healthier ways to cope.
Many college students I work with have experienced past trauma that they have never shared with anyone or taken the time to process. This becomes an overwhelming experience when you add on the stressors of college and living through a pandemic. Like the graphic below shows, for many, the small inconveniences life presents are just that, small. But for someone who is feeling pressure from family to succeed, or has unresolved trauma, these small inconveniences can feel like a breaking point.
Before that happens, I encourage you to find a professional to talk to. If you don’t know where to start, go to your campus counseling center or your academic advisor or to any one you feel comfortable with. Let them know the load feels heavy and you need someone to talk to, they will point you in the right direction.
The perfect time to learn how to cope with stress is while you are in college. There are so many opportunities to put the skills to practice and find the right ones for you. You can learn to manage anxiety and cultural differences as they happen. By learning this important skill you can decrease the feelings of overwhelm allowing you to manage stress in healthier ways and have a more fulfilling college experience.
If this speaks to you and you want to know more what it’s like to work with me, please reach out to learn more!
