Coping with the stress of college life
Stress is a normal part of everyday life. We usually feel stressed when we have to adjust our plans or expectations or make changes in our lives. Typically, we think of stress as coming from negative situations, but we can feel stressed when good things happen too, like starting college.
College life can be stressful because there are constant demands for adjustment and change. You may feel stressed by unexpected academic major, or even delay your graduation. Or, you may feel stressed by personal challenges as you take on more responsibilities like providing for yourself (and maybe your family). Juggling school, work and family responsibilities can feel pretty stressful, so keep in mind that it’s easier to succeed in college when you plan ahead and manage time effectively.
There can be other kinds of stress too. Because our campus is so diverse, you may find yourself meeting very different people with different values and you may wonder about whether you belong when you get involved in new situations. Stay involved. It’s a chance to broaden your understanding and your point of view.
Your college years are also a time of increasing independence. You may begin to make more and more decisions for yourself, like when you will study and how often you will take time out to be with friends. There may also be times when you may feel pressured to fit in. for example, if you drink alcohol, you may find yourself feeling pushed to drink more than you want to and have to decide how to stand up to the pressure.
When you feel stressed, reaching out for support can help you to cope with or resolve your problems. In the past that support might have come from supportive people, familiar places or special things that provided comfort. But now that you are in college, your may find that those supportive people, places and things that used to help may not be available in the same way. For example, you may be too far away or find that the same people that used to offer help and support don’t understand your college experience. You may find that your family still expect you to contribute in the same way even though you don’t have as much time, and that they just don’t understand the demands of college. Either situation can leave you feeling isolated and alone.