College Stress: How To Cope With It

College is often described as the best time of your life, but many students suffer anxiety and depression. However with a little care, you can safeguard your mental well being

Anne Sexton, 13 Sep 2012

Students often have a tough time adjusting to college, so if you are feeling stressed, lonely, worried or depressed you’re not alone. A survey several years ago found that as many as one in three Irish students suffer some mental health or emotional problems during their university career. In fact, students are more likely to suffer from mental health issues than young people not enrolled in third-level education.

There are a number of reasons for this: the study-load is higher with less personal attention from teachers, there may be money worries, and if you’ve moved from home, being away from familiar surroundings, friends and family can leave you feeling isolated.

That’s the bad news. However there are things you can do to look after your mental health.

1. EXERCISE

Some people love playing sport or going to the gym, others find exercise a chore. Either way, physical activity is necessary for your overall health, including your mental health. Exercise releases endorphins and these help reduce stress and make you feel more positive and able to cope. It is recommended that you get at least thirty minutes’ exercise each day. If you don’t enjoy sports then get creative – activities such as dancing, walking and rollerblading all count as exercise and are a lot more fun than the treadmill. Make minor adjustments to your routine as well, such as taking the stairs instead of the lift, or a bicycle instead of a car or public transport.

2. EATING WELL

Food affects your mood, and lack of nutrients means you will be less able to cope with your studies. Eating well can be a challenge for students who’ve been relying on mammy but it really doesn’t require much culinary skill – if you can read you can follow a basic recipe. Nor does it mean a huge outlay in cash. However, if you are strapped for cash – and that will be most of you – you need to pre-plan your meals. Cooking for one can be more expensive so make enough for two or three meals and freeze the remainder. Here’s a useful tip: fish, beans and nuts are excellent ‘brain’ food so eat lots of these around exam time.

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