Stress dominates students more during the spring semester than any other time during the school year, but stress can be dealt with before becoming a problem, an ASU psychologist said.
"The beginning of the spring semester is probably one of the most critical times for students because they are suddenly forced to learn new expectations and requirements and graduation is right around the corner," said Gregory Schrader, an ASU senior psychologist.
He said the long-term impact of stress containment could be severe.
"[Physical] consequences could include ulcers, chronic headaches, muscle pains, and eye strains, not to mention the possibility of severe mental conditions," Schrader said.
He added that students experience sadness after coming back from the winter break because the connection with family and friends suddenly diminishes.
Students are left feeling stressed and face difficulty in getting a grasp on life around school, he said.
By ignoring stress, students become susceptible to various illnesses including depression, anxiety, relationship issues and eating disorders, Schrader added.
"It can be a vicious cycle if someone isn't taking care of his stress," he said. "Depression is probably the major concern we see with about one-third of the students who come in."
Schrader said students use alcohol, sex and shopping to help cope with feelings of stress.
"Alcohol is a depressant and generally creates anxiety," said Jessica Tartaro, an ASU resident therapist. "It gives us the release we need, but we also need alternative methods."
Allowing stress to continue could have a negative impact on a student's attitude toward future stressful situations, Schrader said.
"Now is a very good time to be learning lifelong management skills," he said. "You learn about yourself and how to find balance."
While stress is a complex melting pot of emotions, the solutions can be as simple as proper breathing techniques and exercise, Tartaro said.
"Proper breathing, visualization, yoga and mindfulness help a lot," she said.
She added that by dealing with stress immediately, students would have a stronger willpower in the future.
"When people are stressed, they hold their breath, depriving themselves of the resources to get through it," Tartaro said. "Then you can't sleep, you wake up tired, drink a lot of caffeine and get stuck in the cycle."
That's why Mark Groberski, assistant director for ASU's Counseling and Consultation Department, emphasizes the importance of having a plan.
Planning helps students "set priorities and make sure that behaviors and priorities are in line with one another," Groberski said.
For more information on stress management, visit ASU's Counseling and Consultation Department Web site at www.asu.edu/ counseling_center/student_stressperiods.html.
Reach the reporter at milos.podmanik@asu.edu.
