Coping with first year university stress
SANDTON – Kick-starting your tertiary education can be both stressful and overwhelming, leaving behind comfortable familiarities such as family, friendships or even your favourite high school subjects.
As thousands of matriculants received their final results, many were moving onto the next big stage of their academic journey.
Kick-starting your tertiary education journey can be both stressful and overwhelming, leaving behind comfortable familiarities such as family, friendships or even your favourite high school subjects.
According to clinical psychologist, Dr Colinda Linda of the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (Sadag), this new transition could, unfortunately, leave many feeling empty and sad.
“The shift into a new learning environment can leave room for mental illnesses such as anxiety or depression, and students need to be aware of this,” she said.
Developing new patterns of socialising with new people and establishing new interests is great when starting university but a complete loss of interest in hobbies, for example, could indicate a significant problem, she added
“The general impression that everybody at university knows exactly what they are doing or what they want to do as a career needs to change. Students must know that it is okay to not be 100% certain of what you want to study when starting.
“More certainty will come as the course progresses. While it may not always be financially possible, it’s not forbidden to change subjects or majors a bit later down the line.”
Linda shared the following self-care tips for students embarking on their new journey:
- Follow a balanced diet and exercise.
- Utilise abdominal and calming breathing tips.
- Develop a routine that is to be followed daily.
- Get sufficient sleep.
- Connect and form a network with other university students.
- Make time to do something you enjoy – taking a bubble bath, reading a book, watching a movie etc.
- Write in a journal to note your frustrations and challenges.
- Use resources available on campus such as tutors and perhaps even a councillor on campus.
- Focus on specific techniques and tools to work with such as spider diagrams and study groups.
Students are also encouraged to talk to someone about their feelings.
Sadag manages a counselling and referral call centre that receives up to 400 calls per day from people throughout the country who need assistance and referrals for various mental issues such as depression, anxiety disorder, trauma, teen pregnancy, substance abuse and suicide.
For student mental health and general enquiries call 0800 12 13 14.
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