Finals week is approaching fast, causing an exhausted and stress-ridden sigh to linger over the campus. Under the pressures of the last two weeks of the semester, your friends have morphed into totally unrecognizable beings, adding more things to your list of worries. During the last two weeks of school, it’s important to keep in mind what stress can do to people. High amounts of stress can turn us into completely different people, usually for the worst, not the best. So, maybe you’ve been losing sleep or have been overscheduled in a frantic attempt to finish the massive amounts of work that are due and because of it, your personality has utterly changed. During your stress-induced final weeks, be on the lookout for these different types of stressed out students. Get informed, learn the signs, and become aware; you could help save a
 friend, or yourself, from a mental breakdown this finals week!
Profile 1: The Nom-er
I think we’ve all indulged in an extra snack or two during stressful times, and that is perfectly fine! But, maybe you’ve noticed one of your friends is constantly eating: seconds, even thirds, at every meal, snacking in class, going on late-night junk food binges…you get the picture. Overeating is a common reaction to stress, but letting it get out of hand can have some severe consequences. If you spot your friend turning into the Nom-er, approach the situation with caution. No one particularly likes when people make comments about their eating habits, so keep that in mind when talking to them about their new habit. You could start by offering them some healthy snacks, like carrots or grapes. Overeating on junk food is not only bad for your body, but for your mind. Constantly eating chips, cookies, snack cakes, icecream, etc. can make you feel tired, which will only make you more stressed in the long run. By switching to healthier snack options, the Nom-er will be able to keep eating, but will also feel better about themselves and their bodies.
Profile 2: The Silent (but Deadly)
Sometimes, people do not show symptoms of stress overtly. While your friend might not openly admit how stressed they are, there are several signs to tell if they are a Silent (but Deadly). Is your friend being unusually quiet lately? Are they not contributing to any form of conversation whatsoever? Do they have a far-off look on their face, even when in a large group of people? Some people become very distant when they are stressed and keep their feelings inside. The problem, however, is that they literally break themselves off from the world around them and are immersed in their stress, only focusing on how busy they are. While it is a good thing to be aware of your assignments, it is NOT okay to let them totally overtake your life. Going the extra mile to talk to your friend and bring them out of their shell can really make a difference. Let them know that it’s okay to let loose for a bit and focus on things other than the amount of work they have to do. Also, ask them about how they’re doing; holding in your feelings is never a good thing (and could result in a giant explosion of emotion…tables could be flipped).
Profile 3: The Emotional Mess
I, personally, relate the most with this stress profile. For example, while studying in Jittery Joes last week, I saw a poster for a lost puppy. After trying to keep my composure, I just lost it; I started crying because I was afraid the dog never found its way home. The Emotional Mess is a person who…well, is an emotional mess. I know from experience that stress can seriously mess with a person’s mind and make everything seem extremely overwhelming. The slightest little thing can set the Emotional Mess on a rampage of tears and devastation. Also, when you’re upset, it is hard to focus on what you actually need to do. If you know an Emotional Mess, you should advise them to visit CAPS (Counseling and Psychological Services) located behind the MEP residence hall. It wouldn’t hurt to talk them yourself, but talking with professionals will have better results.
Profile 4: The Monster
Do you think a giant alien monster has taken over your friend’s body and they must now feed on the souls of children for sustenance? Well, let me assure you that is not the case, but they are probably just really stressed out. Some people take out their frustrations on others in a very vocal and obvious way. This type of stress profile is probably the most confrontational. One way to try and soothe the savage stress beast inside your friend is to calmly explain to them that everyone is also stressed out. You can only listen to your friend complain about all they have to do for so long, and that is understandable. Let them know that you are there for them if they would like to talk, but you will not let them practically verbally abuse you. I’ve heard tons of people say, “Sorry I’m being so mean, I’m just so busy.” Well, in my opinion, that is not a good reason to be rude to people. Just remind your friend to take a deep breath and try to remember to keep their tempers in check.
Profile 5: The Productive Procrastinator
This type of stress profiler does get stuff done, but not things that should get done. They might clean their room spotless, create a painting masterpiece, or work on a huge paper that isn’t due for two weeks while their other assignments pile up on their desks. This profile is really tricky, because though they are procrastinating from the task they should be doing, they are still actually doing something. If you witness someone falling into the category of the Productive Procrastinator, try your best to steer them in the right direction. Suggest that they make a daily schedule of things they need to accomplish during the day. One of the biggest reasons people procrastinate productively is due to a lack of organization. If they are organized, they will have a nagging reminder of the important things they have to do.
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