2017 to 2018, 59% of students
seeking help had anxiety concerns,
followed by depression at 49% and
stress at 31%.
Some common signs of mild
anxiety include sweaty palms, nervousness
and feeling uncomfortable
in social settings. Common stress
symptoms include headaches, acne
and trouble relaxing or falling asleep.
Dr. Teresa Michaelson, the
associate director of outreach and
community intervention for CAPS,
emphasizes the need for students to
have a self-care plan to help minimize
stress.
“Make sure you are getting
enough sleep, are eating regular and
healthy meals, and drinking enough
water,” she says. “All those things are
incredibly helpful to minimize and
decrease stress, including exercise,
which has shown to be a highly effective
treatment for stress and depression.”
In 2015, 30% of college students
reported that stress and anxiety
had negatively affected their academic
performance, according to the
Anxiety and Depression Association
of America.
To Pleener, perception is key.
It’s never the actual situation that is
stressful, it’s the way somebody perceives
it, he says.
“If two people are taking a test
and one person thinks, ‘It is just a
test. I will do the best I can.’ while
the other person taking the same test
thinks, ‘My whole life depends on
this. What happens if I fail? What
will my parents think?’ That person
is going to have a stress response
versus the first person,” Pleener explains.
“So, it is the perception of
things that make it stressful.”
He encourages students to give
their brain a break and a chance to
reflect through meditation or exercise.
This allows the brain to focus
on one task at a time and push away
the other stressors around a student.
Michaelson also emphasizes
that students should familiarize
themselves with the types of mental
health resources available at their
college or university. At CAPS, currently
enrolled UCF students can
receive a confidential mental health
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