1 Stress Management
Starting a program in college is exciting. There are so many new things to learn, people to meet, things to do…
Student life can be stressful, too. There are the general stresses any student faces, such as classes, assignments, exams, presentations, and deadlines. While all of these things are going on, life outside of school doesn’t just stop. There are still all the regular stresses of life to contend with. Relationships. Finances. Responsibilities.
There are a number of things that can be stressful for students. Your own situation is unique to you. You might have a demanding schedule outside of school. Work, sports, family, etcetera. Maybe you do paid or volunteer work, and it can be stressful being pulled in multiple directions. Maybe you don’t have a job, and finances might be tight. You may experience conflict, or other relational challenges. Even when relationships are going fine, they still take time and effort to maintain. Maybe you are responsible for caring for others. Maybe you or someone you care about is facing illness or health concerns. You might have anxiety, depression, or other mental health conditions. You might be dealing with loss. Maybe you are living in a new place. You might be on your own for the first time, or the first time in a while. Maybe you are experiencing loneliness, even if you aren’t physically alone.
All of these things are common challenges that students might face.
With the school year starting out, you might be feeling a bit overwhelmed. A lot of information comes your way very quickly, and it is normal to find it overwhelming at times.
Your college or university has resources to support you, and I highly recommend that you check them out. This module on stress management is specific to therapy assistant students, and will address some things that are unique to your chosen field.
Let’s begin by doing some personal reflection so you can identify your stress.
Identify Your Stress
Video: Symptoms of Stress (3:29)
Video: Causes of Stress (2:06)
Video: Implications of Experiencing Stress (1:49)
Practical Application: Identify Your Stress
- What major life events and changes have you experienced over the past year?
- What day-to-day challenges have you faced in your life over the past year?
- What have you found stressful today? Over the past week? During the past month?
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