educate
J
College Life Skills
maskmatters.org
SPRING 2018
72
✪
{
DID YOU KNOW?
}
Stress is the number one factor in academic disruption.
W
e all hear stories about stressed-out college students
struggling with their newfound freedom. As they
attempt to juggle studies with their social life;
somehow squeeze sleep in when they can; then add
in a part-time job, midterms, papers and finals, it
can quickly become overwhelming. Helping our children learn time
management and coping skills can be challenging, especially when they
are no longer living at home.
Many students work hard in high school to gain
admission into a four-year college. And
as college admission has become more
competitive, there is a lot more pressure to
not just get in, but also to stay in.
There’s also tremendous financial pressure. If your
family is fortunate to be able to afford the expense, there is
still pressure to perform well. For students on scholarships,
they are often tied to academic performance requiring students to
maintain a minimum GPA. For students paying for school with loans,
the looming debt can be even more overwhelming.
Despite all of the stresses, most students manage to find balance
between the demands of college and learning to live on their own.
Friendships (both old and new), family support, physical activities and
creating their own school routine can help students maintain their
mental health.
However, when anxiety appears to be too much or depression
starts to creep in, it’s important for students to get help. If your child’s
grades are slipping, if they appear to be having difficulties balancing
social activities and school (too much partying and too little studying),
or they are failing to follow through on work commitments, it may
be time for parents to step in and check on things more closely. Use
FaceTime and Skype if your student is away, or plan a visit if college is
close by.
Remember, most colleges have a behavioral health center staffed
with counselors who are there to help struggling students. If a student
continues to struggle, it is more important to address their mental
well-being than worry if they can salvage the semester. When their
mental state is healthy, the rest generally falls into place. Be patient,
encourage them and be supportive of what they need in times of
challenge.
COLLEGE
LIFE
SKILLS
STRESS AND THE
COLLEGE CO-ED
By // Dr. Lisa Strohman, JD, Ph.D.
SEE
THE
SIGNS
If you feel your college student
may be feeling stressed and
overwhelmed, look out for
these signs and symptoms:
J
Visiting home frequently or
coming home for weekends
J
Low energy
J
Extreme weight loss or gain
J
Quickly angered or agitated
J
No mention of friends/social
activities
J
Difficulties sleeping or
sleeping too much
J
Not calling/responding to
text messages
J
Excessive partying
J
Exhibiting a negative attitude
J
Slipping grades/missing
classes
College students need
space and independence to
figure things out and find their
way, but they also still need
moral and emotional support
from home. When they have a
difficult day or week, they may
vent to you and that’s OK. But
if it becomes more frequent, it
may be a sign that something
more is going on.
