As college students, we’re prone to stress due to large amounts of schoolwork, deadlines and living on our own for the first time. Stress can lead to larger mental and physical health problems, so it’s very important for students to be aware of their stress and understand how to prevent it. I talked to Lauren Barnhart, LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor), about ways to prevent stress and how to know when to ask for help if it causes other problems.
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HC: What are some of the most common symptoms of larger issues like depression that students should be aware of?
LB: Common symptoms of depression include sadness, increased tearfulness, social withdrawal, sleep changes (i.e. too little or too much), changes in appetite or weight, decreased motivation, difficulty concentrating, loss of interest in things you typically enjoy, feelings of helplessness, worthlessness and guilt, loss of self-esteem, and thoughts of suicide or dying. With any mental health issues, we would expect changes in feelings and/or behaviors.
HC: What are some of the reasons why you think that students don’t reach out for help? What advice do you have for students who know something is wrong but aren’t sure what to do?
LB: There can be a lot of stigma about mental health issues. People sometimes think there’s something ‘wrong’ with them if they ask for help, or that it’s weak to ask for help. I think that asking for help actually shows a lot of strength and courage. Everybody can benefit from counseling support at some time in their life. We all have situations that are difficult or stressful with school, relationships, etc., and counseling is a good way to get support with stress and to feel better. It’s important to reach out for help and to know that you’re not alone in fixing this. Coming to the counseling center is a good way to assess what’s going on and to decide what you need to feel better.
HC: What are the best ways for students to enhance their mental health?
LB: Taking good care of yourself is a great way to enhance your mental health: making sure that you’re getting enough sleep and eating well, getting exercise, avoiding mood-altering substances (like alcohol and marijuana,) and building a supportive network of friends and family.
Thank you to Lauren Barnhart, LPC, for taking time to answer these questions and help inform students about mental health. I hope that this article can help fellow students prevent stress and stress-related issues as well as encourage students to be able to reach out for the help that they may need.
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