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In recent years, students’ mental health has been getting progressively worse. If you look at recent statistics, they all point to the same fact – students are not doing well. And the reasons for that are simple. The competition to enter college is off the charts, and the demands for those who enter are strong as well. Add to that separation from home, innate Introversion in some people, and you’ve got yourself a recipe for stressful times.
It’s no wonder students are struggling with depression, anxiety and other issues. Especially if you consider that school counselors are often busy. However, it’s not all that flawed. In this article, we’ll let you in on a few secrets that can help you stay in good shape mentally through these stressful college months.
Learn to Rely on Additional Help
Sure, it’s very noble to handle everything on your own, yet it’s not very realistic. Professors’ demands only increase with each year, and if you want to stand out from the crowd, you are expected to perform at 110% all the time. This is when services like EssayPro can be very helpful. Just reading the reviews and finding the right site for you can bring you some mental relief.
Learning to rely on your friends is another skill that can take you through college. Even if you’re the most reserved, closed-up introvert, you will eventually run into a person you feel comfortable with. Confining in that person and sharing your struggles can bring you immense relief. They might confirm that they are struggling with the same, which, in turn, will help you find a solution that works for both of you.
There are thousands of useful tools online that you can use for your studies. For example, did you know that Google Docs has a referencing tool? Also, if you are searching for a source in Google Scholar, you’ll find a Harvard-style reference at the bottom of each search result. Here are some other tools you might find useful:
- Mindnode – mind mapping tool
- Grammarly – for proofreading
- Quizlet – flashcards and other tools
- Allmath – riddles, calculators & lots of other resources
Get Organized
As annoying as this might sound, you really can’t get anywhere without a good system. Well, you can, but the path is going to be longer and more complicated. As you get organized, learn time management habits and employ a system, you won’t even notice how your life gets easier, and you suddenly have more time to hang out with friends.
The system you use truly depends on your personal preference, and no, procrastinating till the last moment and then pulling an all-nighter is not a system.
The first thing you should pay attention to is your notes. Make sure to take notes in class and structure them as you go. If you find it hard to do, ask your prof if you can record the lecture. Yet, if you’re not an auditory learner, writing those notes down will only add to the list of tasks. Make sure that you write down all the homework and don’t lose any assignments.
This might be controversial, but start doing homework as soon as you get home. If you start checking social media, your brain will go from study mode to phone mode, and it’s hard to switch back. It’s best to take advantage of the focused state you have right after attending classes.
Keep in Touch
Isolation is one of the biggest struggles for students. Campuses get bigger and bigger, and within them, it’s hard to find a community where you feel like you belong. If that’s the case for you, keep in touch with your friends from home. They may help you with motivation and socialization. But don’t rely on them for all your social needs either.
Sooner or later, you’ll need to find your crowd; you can’t be online 24/7. So, take the hard step and put yourself out there. Go to a party, a club meeting or join a study group. If you feel anxious, try to ask yourself, ‘What’s the worst thing that can happen?’ Usually, you’ll discover that it’s not that bad after all.
Try to visit your parents when you get the chance. The feeling of belonging can really fulfill you and help you get through the rest of the semester. Or, vice versa, if things at home are less than ideal, you will remember why you left in the first place and why you need to work hard to get away.
Address a Professional
As simple as those solutions might be, they don’t really work if you’re truly depressed or struggling with other mental health issues. This is when professional help is key. For many people, talking to a therapist is very scary, not to mention expensive. Try to get through to the school counselor first, and they might recommend a local therapist who is not that expensive.
Alternatively, you may use online services like BetterHelp or similar. They tend to be less expensive, yet they hire professional therapists.
The first step is the hardest one. Usually, after it comes relief and understanding that not all is lost.
Wrapping Up
Mental health is no joke, especially for the youth. These formative years should be filled with joy, happiness and new discoveries rather than depression and anxiety. Yet, for many people, it’s not that simple. Many of us have a natural predisposition to mental health issues, and the only thing that can be done is getting help. And the sooner you do that, the better.