Ways students manage stress levels


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A student studies on the second floor of the Park Library on Nov. 6, 2015.

Southfield sophomore Shannon Stoudemire said she knows to focus on herself when she begins to experience high anxiety, a loss in interests and a depletion of her overall happiness.

Being a student can take a toll on physical, mental and emotional wellbeing — especially when combined with balancing extra-curricular activities, work and a social life. Students feel especially burned out after mid-term exams.

“I would advise others to trust their guts,” Stoudemire said. “If they feel like they’re taking on too much at once, or if they can't keep in touch with their emotions and physical well-being, they need to step back and relax for a bit so they're not stretching themselves too thin.”

Cameron Corbat, a multicultural adviser in Carey Hall, said one of the most important things students can do to keep a clear mind is to have a healthy outlet. Otherwise, it is common to form unhealthy habits when dealing with stress.

Physical health is equally important to mental and emotional health. Corbat explained that physical changes in the body can be signals of how stress is affecting it.

Corbat said overexertion is an obvious sign of stress. He gave the example of overeating due to stress, or obsessively working out. The formation of these type of habits give students a sense of control that is unhealthy.

“When residents come to me for help, one of the first things I ask is if they feel like they have control over their life,” Corbat said. “If the answer is no, more than likely they’re forming bad habits that will only solve their problems temporarily.”

No matter how people cope with problems, in order to gain control, it is most important to target the principle problem. Corbat said this can be the hardest thing to do.

Health sciences professor Thomas Kozal talked about his experience with students who take poor care of themselves.

“I’ve seen the results of students not being able to function because they’re sleep deprived,” Kozal said. “They can’t even comprehend simple tasks because their brains are so fried.”

He recalled his time at CMU as a senior in the undergraduate program, when he juggled being a resident assistant, worked two jobs, played club volleyball, committed to a fraternity, was a member of the executive board of his registered student organizationa, and took 22 credit hours a semester.

“Halfway through the year I asked my parents for a therapist,” Kozal said. “The first thing the therapist said was that I have way too much on my plate, so I ended up cutting back hours in my organizations and work, and focused on what I needed to be successful.”

Kozal noted how important it is to go enjoy things for your own emotional health.

“If you don’t take the time out for yourself when you’re stressed, worrying is just gonna kill you," he said.

Miya Shaw, a resident assistant in Robinson Hall, said time management is important to manage stress levels.

“My planner is basically my life and I use it to schedule all these responsibilities including free time for myself,” Shaw said. 

She said having a routine schedule, especially for waking up and going to sleep at the same time every day can be useful.

Kozal said ultimately, the most important thing you can do is focus on the things you have the ability to control, and push aside the things you cannot.

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