Stress and Anxiety: HSU Counselors Provide Insight

(ABILENE, Texas)–The end of the semester is almost there, which means that finals and exams are fast approaching before students go on summer break. Hardin-Simmons understands that this is a difficult time of year that can involve anxiety and stress for students as they study. To help students deal with these disturbances, learn how to manage them, and reduce them, Nikki Rhodes, director of counseling services, and Steven Eller, university counselor, provide some helpful information for students who may struggle with stress and anxiety.

Usually, students get anxious because of the many due dates and tasks they must meet in a short period of time, but that is just one of many stress factors that a student may encounter. Rhodes explains that there are external factors, such as family problems, which may also be contributing to anxiety. Time management plays an essential role because it helps students cope with the mental illnesses which may affect them. Knowing how much time is needed to study is a great way to start planning and making sure there is space for free time to help the mind relax.

“College is a full-time job. Students have classes from eight to five, and then, they need more time to study. A student should learn time-management skills and know that it is normal to feel stressed,” says Eller.

“50% of students will struggle with a mental illness at some point of their college life, like anxiety, depression, or other more serious problems. It is debilitating, and forcing someone to study in that situation is miserable. There is a stigma of mental health among families, and we need more awareness,” says Rhodes.

When schedules are tight and include long periods of school and work, it is good to find a temporary escape so that homework does not become too daunting. Finding time to practice a sport, doing an outdoor activity, or meeting with friends are some activities that can help release the accumulated tension.

“There is a misconception of the idea that we have to avoid anxiety and stress, but avoiding makes us more anxious, and eventually the problem gets worse. We say you have to cope, deal, learn it, embrace it. Avoiding is wasting time you could have used to work on something or being productive,” says Rhodes.

Counseling is a great tool that students may use to deal with these struggles, but not students are aware of HSU’s counseling services. These sessions help students to challenge their thinking, process things, and rework their thought processes. In events such as a family struggle, Rhodes explained that counseling might be a safe space for students to work through these situations; it provides their own time for students, and the discussions will be about what they want to talk about.

Self-care is another vital tool that helps students deal with stress. Being able to devote time to self-care, as Rhodes says, conveys maturity. Eller says that students are learning how to take care of themselves, so it is normal to experience stress and anxiety; what matters is how to deal with the issue.

Contact Nikki Rhodes for more information at nikki.rhodes@hsutx.edu or visit the counseling offices in Moody Center, on the 2nd floor.