Everyone experiences the agonies of negative stress to some degree, and UTM students are no exception, especially with midterms nearing an end.

Relationship problems, financial problems, academic troubles and unexpected events top the list of many stressors affecting college students. Because stress affects the mind, body and emotions, it is important to know how to control stress levels in order to stay healthy and maintain good grades.

Getting relief from stress may seem impossible because the symptoms are so overwhelming. “Headaches, insomnia, anxiousness, difficulty concentrating, and changes in eating habits are all signs that your body may be overloaded with stress,” says Jennifer Levy, the director of UTM Counseling and Career Services. Left untreated, stress can take over your entire body and disrupt every aspect of your life.

However, you have ways to control your stress levels. First, you must figure out what is triggering your stress. If you don’t already know, ask yourself what life changes you are adjusting to. Along with beginning your college career come lifestyle, social and responsibility changes. With this in mind, it should be easy for UTM students to pinpoint what their stressors are. However, if you can’t figure out what is triggering your stress, don’t worry — you are not alone. Many people don’t realize that even the most simple life changes can provoke stress. It doesn’t take a major catastrophe to send stress levels soaring.

Once you find out what your triggers are, it’s time to work toward combating them. “Stress management, coping techniques, and staying mindful of what triggers stress are the best ways of controlling stress,” Levy says. “Stress management techniques can include just about anything, depending on what the stressful situation or event is. For example, if a student is stressed out about passing a class, a great way to manage his or her stress would be to not procrastinate.

If you are stressed concerning finances, an excellent stress management technique would be to plan a budget.”

Laughter is an instant stress reliever; so, socializing and enjoying leisurely activities are good ways to relieve stress. College students should take breaks from the hassles of studying and related responsibilities. Also, just talking with a close, trust-worthy friend about your troubles can help tremendously.

“Stress is a natural emotion; and, dealing with stress is part of the educational process. The university has ample resources such as the Career and Counseling Center and the Student Success Center to help students deal with stress,” says George Daniels, an academic counselor at UTM.

The counseling services are free to students and offer stress management, coping techniques, and time management skills.

There are qualified counselors available year-round to help students with emotional issues as well as academic issues. UTM counseling services realize that sometimes the most stressful period for students is finals week. To ease this stress, Counseling and Career Services sponsor the Stress-Free Zone—where during finals week, students can enjoy free massages, crafts, games, and snacks.

To schedule an appointment or for more information on UTM’s counseling services, contact Counseling and Career Services by phone at 881-7720 or log on to the UTM homepage, click on student quick links, then click on Counseling and Career Services.