'I've got a lot of pressure on me this year, but is what I'm feeling a normal level of stress?'
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Q: I am in college doing an advanced health and social care course. In the first year I didn't take any time off college. Now, in the second year I am feeling the pressures of exams and coursework and I feel anxious when I think of university next year. I've had a few family problems over the last few months and it's all making me feel ill. I overeat and then under eat, I get mood swings and constantly feel tired, my confidence and feelings of self-worth are low – I'm worried that the amount of time I've had off college will affect my conditional offer for university. Is this a normal level of stress? Deena, 19. |
our online advisors reply:
Hi Deena, thanks for contacting us. It sounds like you are feeling pretty low and are unsure what to do. I get the impression that despite feeling emotional, you are perhaps holding a lot back. How much support do you have around you? Coping with college life and exams can be a very stressful experience. When we have too many things to do and not enough time or energy to do them, things start to get on top of us. This is known as being 'overstressed'.
This is a very busy period in your life. Although you would need to consider for yourself what is happening within your life, examples of the kinds of things that lead to stress problems are: unrealistic demands being made; having too many responsibilities; not enough time to do things; unreasonable people; and pressure to achieve results.
As stress affects us in so many ways, in order to cope with it, we need to manage our lives effectively. Developing our relaxation, time management, exercise and diet can all help reduce stress levels. You may like to check out our feature on student stress, which includes information and sources of help. Or try our Stress Test, which will help you to recognise the ways stress affects you and show you how to handle potentially stressful situations.
It often helps to talk things through with someone. It's also perfectly all right to have a good cry now and then. Being open with our feelings can help relieve any tension or pressure that we may be experiencing. I do understand that sometimes it can be easier to talk and be open with someone who does not know you, and I'm wondering whether you have thought about seeing a counsellor. When you talk to a counsellor it is in complete confidence and they will not judge you or tell you what to do. It can help you make sense of your emotions and explore options for moving forwards. It's also good to simply have a place where you can go and express what is going on for you within a safe setting.
Your college will probably also offer counselling support if requested. Perhaps you could look into this. One of the best places to find what support is available is the Student Union in college. As well as counselling, they offer a wide range of support to help with specific issues such as exams and finance.
Talking to someone on the phone can also be helpful. If you would like to speak to someone in confidence, you could call the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90 (24 hours a day). They also offer an e-mail service at jo@samaritans.org.
The following sites contain further advice on managing stress for students and young people:
I hope that this helps Deena. Take care.
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