Student Life

Exams.  Studying. Parties.  Midterms. Projects.  Thesis. Group work.  Grades. Tests.  Tuition. Work. Roomates.  

Oh, the life as a student.  Sure, being a student has its benefits even beyond the educational side of it, but it also comes with inevitable stress.

You're bouncing around from class to class, buildings to libraries, dealing with the pressures of exams & midterms, and all the while you're fighting a cold or the flu, you have 4 projects that are worth 60% of your final grade, and it's only the second week back in this semester.

Student life is not easy.  There is a lot of pressure to excel & succeed, and it can be truly overwhelming.  For those of us who have surpassed the post secondary education part of our lives, there are definitely times of stress that will forever stick in our memories.

Students can often wear themselves down when they don't take the appropriate measures to take care - of their physical selves, as well as their mental selves.  In fact, when a student continues down a slippery slope of not taking care of themselves, one may potentially experience depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and thoughts or actions of self harm or suicide.

This doesn't mean that if you're having a particularly bad day or week that all of a sudden you're going to have these thoughts running through your mind, however it is possible.

How can a student take care of their overall being?  It's not always going to be easy, but with practice, students can adapt to coping skills that will benefit them all school year round.

TIPS

- Diet & Exercise - 
This does not mean you have to hit up the gym 5 days a week on top of your regular schedule and buy all organic foods, but it does mean to eat healthy meals (skip the fast food in the cafeteria and go for some homestyle cooking, or a fresh salad/soup combo) and to try and get at least 30 minutes of exercise in your day.  A great tool to help you get moving, are the active wear bracelets that you can sync to your smart phone.  A gentle vibration will remind you when you haven't moved in awhile - get your heart rate up with a walk, go for a skate on the canal, or hit up the gym!

- Do Something For YOU - 
Finding something that you love to do, will help ease the stress!  If it's going for a mani/pedi, or grabbing the guys to watch a game at the local pub, or if it's simply cranking the music and letting it all out in an impromptu dance party, do it!  

- Furry Friends - 
Do you have a pet in your home?  Or a friend with a dog or a cat?  Studies have shown that just 15 minutes with a furry friend can help ease major stress.  Many universities have Pet Therapy Programs, where animals who have gone through therapy training will visit on designated days, to help brighten the lives of students.  Ask your Student Centre if anything like this exists and how you can attend!  Or, visit your local Humane Society and volunteer as a dog walker.

- Talk It Out - 
Knowing that you have a place to turn to in your time of stress is helpful.  This is where we at the Distress Centre come in handy.  Since we're 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, we are always here, ready to listen and support you.  If you're cramming for a test or a midterm and are at your wit's end, pick up the phone and call us.  Talking about what ails you, is one of the best ways to cope.  Our Crisis Line Responders are non judgmental, unbiased, and are people, just like you & I.  

If you have a student in your life, pass along our blog post so that we can help each of them get through potentially tough times.

We're always here, and always ready to listen : 613-238-3311

Back To School - Littles

The time has finally (or maybe, too quickly) arrived - your baby is heading off to Kindergarten!  

As you do your shopping together, for backpacks, lunch kits, crayons, new clothes and more, your child starts to ask questions about what Kindergarten will be like.

"Will my teacher like me?"
"Will I make new friends?"
"When do I take a nap?"
"Who makes my lunch?"
"How do I go to the bathroom?"
"How will I know what bus to get on?"
"What if my teacher forgets about at recess?"
"How can I talk to you when I'm sad?"
"What if nobody likes me?"
"What if someone calls me names?"

...and the heart-wrenching moment for any parent "Do I have to go?  Can't I stay at home with you?"

Kindergarten is an immense change for your child, even if they've been going to a pre-school or daycare.  A new routine and people can be very overwhelming for your little one - as well as yourself.  School stress can occur at any age, especially at an early age.

Preparing your child for Kindergarten may take more than the week before.  There will be an adjustment period, where your child is more fatigued, and more irritable, as the days are more challenging with learning to read, write, and learning new social skills with friends they've just met.  They're learning how to cope with aggression, and manage their emotions (no, you can't hit Bobby, same rules as at home, use your indoor voice, it's okay to be sad, etc).

Does your child's new school have an "Introduction to Kindergarten Day/Program"?  It's a program where your child can take the bus (if applicable) with a parent to see what it's like, then spend a few hours getting to see the classroom, meet the teacher and other kids in their class, and absorb their environment.  Then, they take the bus back home to see how they get on the bus after school.  It's a great day to help calm their little minds, and big worries.

If your child's school doesn't have this program, inquire about taking your child into the school the week before.  Most teachers are already in their classrooms a week before, and would probably just love to meet your child one-on-one.  

Involve your child in the shopping aspect of getting ready.  What clothes will make your child the most comfortable.  Dresses for little girls are adorable, but are they play-appropriate?   Are there lots of buttons on their pants?  This can be a tricky thing when having to use the bathroom at a new place, and may cause accidents.  Do you need to send a spare change of clothes in case of an accident, paint droppings or juice spillage?  Leggings for little girls are great and easy to play in, change into, etc.  Track pants or elastic waistbands are perfect for little boys who sometimes just don't have the time to worry about buttons and zippers!  

Celebrate your child going into this new milestone!  Maybe have a nice dinner the night before school starts with their favorite meal to celebrate what a big boy/girl they've become - or celebrate after the first day or week is done!

Consider getting your child on an earlier bedtime routine.  Summer months have us keeping our children up later than normal, so setting a new routine for school will help with potential fatigue.  And hey, what does a nap here and there hurt?  

Finally, allow yourself to feel what you feel.  Having your child head off for their first year of school can bring forth many emotions for you, the parent, as well.  You are most likely overjoyed that you've gotten them this far, but are afraid to send them off into the school world.  You may feel like your child is too young, or too shy, or too little to go to JK, or that they may be the victim of bullying.  You may feel anxiety about your child being in the care of another.  These are all normal emotions & feelings.  Rest assured that you're not alone.  

Is there a Parent Council you can join to ensure that your little student is being taken care of properly?  Does your child have an agenda that the teacher signs and sends home daily?  Ask your child about their day.  Avoid the "What did you do at school today" question, as you'll often get the "I forget" answer, as they have a busy day, every day.  Consider asking questions like "What did you paint today?"  "What new songs did you learn?"  "Did you fall asleep during naptime today?" "Did you have a nice day with your friends?"  Showing your child that you're interested in their day will ease their anxiety, and will help you feel as ease as well, learning about their day.

As September is just a few weeks away, know that we are here for you to talk to.  Sending your child off to school is a whirlwind of emotions, and we're here to provide support to you.  613-238-3311, anytime of day or night, we're here.

Best of luck to your littles, heading off to JK this year!

Student Pressure

One of the most trying times in a person's life is the school years.  Whether it be high school or college, university or adult education. 

• The pressure of getting the grade.  "I need to get that A in Communications to keep my scholarship"

• Peer pressure to do drugs, drink, or act in a certain manner.  "All my friends are smoking up, and keep asking me to as well, but I don't want to!"

• Exams.  Study, study, study.  Do you feel like that's all you do, and it's not going anywhere for you?

• Sexual orientation.  "I"m gay, but no one knows, and I'm scared"

• Financial problems due to the economy. "I can barely afford tuition let alone food"

• Bullying.  "Everyone hates me because I don't look and act like they do"

• Homesick for friends and family if you're away at school.  "I miss my parents, and my best friends who are at another school all together without me.

• Issues with roomates, and dorms.  "My roomates are just horrible to deal with, they don't clean anything and are rude and inconsiderant people"

• Chosing a Major.  "What if I choose the wrong Major and I can't get a job after!"

There are SO many issues that come up during the school era of your life. Do any of the above comments or phrases sound like something you've heard yourself say or think?

I remember when I was away at college, being homesick because of being in a long-distance relationship caused me to go home nearly every weekend.  I missed out on many weekends at the college, with friends, because I felt like I needed to be home.  Once I let myself branch out to new opportunities, I saw myself really open up with friends and outings.

I was fortunate to have excellent roomates that were great to talk to, with a grade I was unhappy with, with a study problem, a boy, and even to talk about where my degree was going to take me. 

That's not always the case for students, and we want to let you know that you're not alone.  There are volunteers at our centre that are also students, that may be able to relate to what you're experiencing.

If you feel as if you can't talk to anyone at the school, or friends, or even your family, and you're away at school, we're here for you.  Depression can sneak up on even the happiest of person when they're away at college or university, or even if you're still in high school or getting your OSSD through Adult Education.

Be the healthiest student you can be, physically, emotionally, mentally. 

613-238-3311

 

OR

 

1-866-676-1081