Newsletters for Mental Health
Elizabeth Para, Intern Counselor, MSOE Counseling Services
September 2008
As you start your college career, be it immediately after high school or after spending some time in the workforce, you will face some adjustments during your first semester here. The transition can be both exciting and daunting as you cope with exploring a new environment, becoming independent, making new friends, and establishing your own goals. With so many changes happening at the same time, it is no wonder that many college students report feeling anxious. Following are some common concerns experienced by college students and tips to address them.
I don’t have any friends here and I don’t know where to meet people.
Believe it or not, most students do not start college surrounded by a large group of friends. Remember:
• It can take time to develop healthy relationships with others.
• Don’t wait for others to initiate things; ask someone from class or your dorm to do something with you.
• Put yourself out there; go where you are likely to meet people with similar interests and values. Try classes, lectures, study groups, clubs, campus events, places of worship, fitness activities, or cultural events.
• Attend the HDW program “Making Meaningful Friendships” on Monday, October 20, 2008 from 1-1:50 in the Multipurpose Room on the 3rd floor of the CC building for some tips on meeting new people and maintaining friendships.
I don’t know what to do on campus.
Check out the following websites for activities and ways to get involved on campus.
• http://inside.msoe.edu/student_activities
• /life_at_msoe/campus_activities/
• http://inside.msoe.edu/student_activities/student_orgs
How do I deal with all of this pressure?
The following tips are adapted from the National Mental Health Association:
• Plan your use of time. Make time every day to prioritize your work. Prioritizing can give you a sense of control over what you must do, and a sense that you can do it.
• Join an extracurricular activity. Activities both on and off campus can bring opportunities to meet people interested in the same things you are, and it provides a welcome change from coursework.
• Try relaxation methods. These techniques include meditation, deep breathing, long walks, exercise – whatever you enjoy that lessens your feelings of stress or discomfort.
• Take time for yourself each day. Make this special time – even if it’s only 15 minutes by yourself. Focusing on yourself can be energizing and gives a feeling of purposefulness and control over life.
I’m feeling homesick.
Relax, most students feel homesick at one time or another. Getting involved at MSOE can help you through it (visit the above websites for ideas on events and organizations that are available). Here are some more suggestions to help you through it:
• Admit that you have it. Much of what you know and can rely on is back home. Homesickness is a natural response to this sense of loss.
• Talk about it with an older sibling or friend who has gone away from home. It takes strength to accept the fact that something is bothering you and to confront it.
• Bring familiar items from home to your new location. Photos, plants, even stuffed animals help to give one a sense of continuity and ease the shock of a new environment.
• Familiarize yourself with your new surroundings. Walk around. You will feel more in control if you know where building, classes, and services are.
• Invite people along to explore. Making friends is a big step to alleviating homesickness.
• Keep in touch with the people back home, but put a limit on telephoning. Write them reports of your activities and new experiences. Let them know you’d like to hear from them, too.
• Do something. Don’t wait for it to go away by itself. Buried problems often emerge later disguised as headaches, fatigue, illness, or lack of motivation.
MSOE Counseling Services creates monthly newsletters on mental health
concerns and psychological issues. You can view the complete list of downloadable Counseling Services Newsletters.
MSOE Counseling Services is located on the second floor of the Kern
Center (K-230). To schedule an appointment with a counselor, call (414)
277-7590 or visit the Counseling Services homepage.
