As girls in college, countless things can stress us out. From academic pressure to relationship issues to financial concerns, the list goes on (and on). Because of our endless list of things to do, self-care and taking care of our mental health can often be put on the back burner. However, ensuring that we are properly taking care of ourselves is the key to making sure we can accomplish everything we put our minds to. Here at FSU, we have access to a variety of mental health resources, and I’m hoping to shed some light on them.
Counseling and Psychological Services
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) are the psychological services provided by FSU on the second floor of the Askew Student Life Center. These services are confidential and completely free to current FSU students. They have walk-in hours Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Plus, they offer services through both Zoom and in-person, and they also have a crisis hotline for after-hours.
Besides their counseling services, CAPS offers so much more. They offer various workshops on Zoom every week, covering a variety of topics from conquering anxiety to overcoming depression. CAPS also offers “outreaches,” which are presentations that provide even more support to students. These presentations cover even more topics, including conflict management, anger management, grief and loss, and many more. All this information can be found on their website.
Realizing Everyone’s Need for Emotional Wellness (RENEW)
RENEW is a peer education group composed of students who act as CAPS ambassadors. These ambassadors provide individual instruction sessions that can be booked through their website. These sessions cover a wide range of topics, including study skills, time management, self-esteem, healthy communication, and more. They also provide several group workshops and presentations as well.
In addition to all these services that CAPS and RENEW provide, their website is filled with plenty of helpful information regarding mental and physical health that is right at your fingertips. They have many PowerPoints, PDFs, and links to websites that provide very helpful information on many topics. These topics range from reactions to stress, healthy coping strategies, how family members can be supportive, living with anxiety, and so much more.
My Favorite Ways to Manage Stress
Over my many years of dealing with stress, I’ve come to learn what works best for me. A big thing for me is exercise. Carving time out of my week to hit the gym always makes me feel so much better afterward.
Going on walks is also a great way to reduce stress, and now that spring is finally upon us, there’s no better time to do it. I enjoy walking around Lake Ella and the Lafayette Heritage Trail Park, especially on a sunny day. Feeling the sunshine on your skin releases serotonin, which can boost your mood and help you feel calm and focused. Take that seasonal depression!
Keeping a clean environment also helps reduce my stress. Spending just five minutes each night dedicated to cleaning your space can make a world of difference. I also enjoy more hygienic forms of self-care, including face masks, hair masks, doing my nails, and the infamous everything shower. Even if you don’t have the strength and energy an everything shower requires, you’d be surprised at how much help just a quick shower can provide.
At the end of the day, everyone manages stress differently. From counseling to anxiety workshops, yoga to meditation, to a quick call to your parents, there are almost endless ways to deal with your stress. Managing stress is an ongoing process, and it’s okay to experiment with different techniques to find what works best for you and your needs. Remember, it’s all about balance!
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