Mental Health Resources

If you are struggling right now, you are not alone. Many people, especially college students, suffer from mental health issues, some directly related to stress. Here are our top 10 ways to manage stress from college:

1. Don't put things off until the last minute. If you let work pile up, it will exacerbate your stress levels when those deadlines come up. We recommend setting a schedule for completing long and short term work so that you aren't overwhelmed by deadlines. 
2. Take frequent breaks. Sitting and studying or practicing for long periods of time can tire your brain and body out. By taking breaks at least once an hour, you can guarantee your brain and body can function at their highest rate. When taking a break, don't just look at your phone, but stand up and stretch, go outside, drink some water, or meditate to help your mind actually rest.
3. Consider lowering caffeine intake and increasing your water intake. Caffeine can contribute to raising cortisol levels (the stress hormone). So decreasing your caffeine dependence can help you regulate your sleep better. Water is also necessary for life (and no, coffee is not a replacement for water). Not only that, but water has been shown to decrease rates of anxiety over time.
4. Set routines, especially for sleep. Setting routines provides structure and can help with long-term stress relief. Even if it's just setting strict times for sleep and waking, you will notice real benefits. And remember, nothing is worth giving sleep up over. Pulling an all-nighter can raise your cortisol levels and leave you feeling more stressed than before. It can actually harm you to not sleep! So make sure you budget your time for sleep well!
5. Consider doing breathing exercises, stretches, basic yoga, or affirmations throughout the day. Having some activity dedicated to decreasing stress levels can be an easy and fast way to leave you refreshed, especially during times of high stress. Click the links to see some examples of these on Youtube.
6. Exercise if possible. Getting your heart-rate up and exercising for 15 minutes a day releases endorphins or the "feel-good" drugs in your brain. It decreases cortisol levels and helps your body self-regulate. Exercising can also help with regulating sleep better.
7. Discover what helps you with "self-care." Everyone has different things that can cause stress. For some it's school work, for others it's a messy room, and for others it's medical or interpersonal issues. Everyone also has different ways to practice self-care. For some, doing skin care can be an act of self care because you are setting aside time to take care of yourself in a way that you normally don't have time or energy for. For others, cleaning your living areas can be an act of self-care. And for others, taking a break from socializing and having some quiet time can be self-care. Find what helps you take care of yourself, and practice doing that when you are able to. Consider doing these activities during times of high-stress, like midterms or finals.
8. Take a mental health day. Sometimes, when you're overwhelmed, you need to take a longer break to set things in perspectives and practice some self-care. Taking a day off to take care of yourself can do a world of good. If you are able to, you can practice self-care, exercise, and catch up on personal things you're falling behind on that are stressing you out. Alternatively, you can speak with a therapist or go see a doctor, or let your body recover from long periods of stress by sleeping in. Whatever you do, make sure it is in service of helping you feel better.
9. Find a therapist. MI can help you get in touch with a counselor or you can use your insurance or Google to find a therapist to talk to either online or in-person. Therapists can be good resources to talk through problems and can provide techniques for handling mental health problems and managing stress. They can also provide an outsider's perspective on your problems, which can help you tackle them. They are completely confidential, so you can talk to them about anything.
10. Surround yourself with a good support network. Having good friends and family, whether here or elsewhere, that you can talk to can be the best way to help manage stress. They know you and your history, so they can listen and help validate you and your problems. Venting out issues is a great way of dealing with stress related to them.

Do you have any other suggestions for stress? Let us know! Email library@mi.edu.