Stress makes life tough during finals week

by Erica Bush
Staff Writer

Pulling out hair, throwing books across the library or screaming at a roommate for not washing the dishes may be a little bit more prevalent during finals week. But the underlying cause for all that frustration is something many college students understand -- stress.

Stress has become a common part of college life, but Ohio University is offering ways for students to help manage and cope with this part of life.

Academics and personal relationships, and how one thinks about these, are the leading stressors for teenagers, psychologist John Kaplan said.

OU sophomore George Zappas is among students who are affected by these pressures.

"It is mostly academics that stress me out," he said.

Stress affects each person differently but results in both physical and mental side effects, Kaplan said.

Muscle tension, headaches and insomnia all result from stress, he said. Decreased concentration and attention span, moodiness and irritability also are side effects.

To help students handle the stress affecting their lives, Counseling and Psychological Services at Hudson Health Center offer a stress management workshop every week during the quarter, said Kaplan, who is the workshop leader.    

Anywhere from two to 20 OU students attend the free workshop, he said.

Among the topics discussed in the informational session are techniques for coping and dealing with stress.

Students learn stress management skills including meditation, breathing and visualization exercises, time management and self-care. Participants also learn to relieve stress through muscle relaxation and sensory awareness by observing their surroundings through use of their senses, he said.

Aside from these workshops, Ping Recreation Center, for the second year, is offering students the opportunity to relieve stress from final exams this week in what they call Exam Week Stress Reliever.

This program is held on Monday of exam week and offers free food, chair massages, a movie and games for students to take their minds off exam pressure, said Melissa Toretch, assistant director of Ping.

But students do not need to attend workshops or activities in order to take simple steps to cope with everyday stress.Everyone can cope with stress on a daily basis by taking care of themselves, Kaplan said. And this is what students are doing.

"I like to climb at Ping, do outdoor climbing or drive," Zappas said.

OU sophomore Laura O'Neal, whose major stressor is academics, said she likes to alleviate stress by taking a shower.

Teenagers should maintain a proper diet, exercise and do things they enjoy during stressful times, Kaplan said.