Author: National Mental Health Association
Topic: General
It can be a difficult time. Suddenly, perhaps for the first time in your life, you're moving away from everything familiar to you - family, friends, home, community - and beginning to make your way as a young adult entirely surrounded by strangers, in a new setting. You may feel that everything is on the line: your ability to succeed at high school or college-level work, to build supportive relationships, and to adapt to a lot of change all at once.
According to a recent studies by UCLA and Indiana University, more than 30% of elementary students and college freshmen reported feeling overwhelmed a great deal of the time during, and Johns Hopkins University reported that more than 40% of a recent freshman class sought help from the student counseling center. So understand that if you're feeling pressure and stress, you're not alone.
Helping Yourself
Many students have minor problems adjusting to their new environment. Here are a few ideas that can help you manage your feelings of pressure and stress:
Getting Help
Sometimes however, multitude of the changes and adjustments can trigger depression. If the above techniques do not appear to be working, don't hesitate to seek professional help. If your feelings of constant stress become feelings of sadness that go on for weeks and months, you may be experiencing more than just difficulty adjusting to life's changes. Seek assistance from your school's counseling service or student health center, your doctor, or a mental health professional.
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For more information about the National Mental Health Association’s (NMHA) College Student and Depression Initiative, contact:
College Student and Depression Initiative
The National Mental Health Association (NMHA)
2001 N. Beauregard Street, 12th Floor
Alexandria, VA 22311
1-800-969-6642
TTY: (800) 433-5959
www.nmha.or