Dealing with finals stress

By Olivia Biagi
Collegian Editor
April 16, 2008

It’s 3 a.m. The cursor is blinking on a blank Word document, and the paper that you should have written already is due in five hours. Dark circles have permanently formed underneath your tired eyes a week ago, and you’ve finally crashed down hard from that Monster induced caffeine high. The slightest noise or movement from your roommate elicits a reaction that makes King Kong look like a baby chimp. You’ve spent the last week snapping at anybody who dares look your way and spent the majority of your time in the library hiding behind your laptop.

Yes, it’s the end of the semester and students are beginning to feel the anxiety and tension associated with the want to spend as much time with friends before being separated for three months of summer, and the need to buckle down on those final exams and papers that seem to unexpectedly pile up.

“It seems that students at La Salle have a variety of ways that they manage their stress and that the possibilities can be real stress reducers or can actually produce more or different stress,” said Kate Ward-Gaus, coordinator of the Alcohol and Other Drug Education Center and Counseling and Health Services.

But, luckily for Lasallians, Collegian has designed a guide for all to follow to help get through these stressful times. The following areas of stress relief have been recommended by the National Mental Health Association and the La Salle University Counseling Center.

Talk it out

By discussing overwhelmed feelings with a friend, mentor or counselor, one can release his or her worries in a healthy manner and possibly find a solution to any problems that have arisen. The Student Counseling Center located in McShain Hall offers help to students who are struggling under pressure, and a forum to talk it out.

Work off anger

Rather than lashing out on a poor and unsuspecting roommate, do something constructive with the newly found energy from pent-up frustration. Cleaning, taking a walk, playing a sport or hitting the gym are great ways to pound out those feelings.

Escape

The final recommendation realizes that sometimes people just need to briefly step back and relax. Once the mind is cleared, jump back into work refreshed and ready to take on anything. Good and healthy ways to escape are reading a good book, taking advantage of the beautiful spring weather with a leisurely walk around campus or participating in the Stressbusters events put on by PEER Educators, such as the annual Kissing and Petting event.

The annual Stressbusters Week events will take place April 21 to 26. So step back, relax and good luck on those finals.

biagio1@lasalle.edu