Educator of the performing arts, anatomy, history and dance performance, Meredith Lyons, gives some helpful tips to deal with stress and anxiety. Although she is not a mental health professional, she speaks from her personal experience from what she has witnessed with her students, colleagues and peers.
In your opinion, what do you think is the largest stressor on students?
Social acceptance, self identity, ideal future sense of selves and its actuality.
What do you think students get anxiety about?
Where they fit in and belong with friends/peers/family/intimate relationships/academics/social/local/global.
Again, identity…and how others view them.
What do you do to handle stress?
I get outside, do something active, try something new, go on an adventure, meditate, yoga, travel both within the states and outside the country, meet new people.
Try to be around friends, connect with my family, do something ‘good’ for myself with positive self talk.
Take a deep BREATH, and get started on my many ‘to do’ lists.
Do you handle anxiety differently than stress?
With anxiety, I take a long hot shower. Cook something that requires a lot of effort, or go to a fun coffee shop. Sit down enjoy the meal and create ‘to do’ lists. I then spend a good amount of time/hours tackling my ‘to do’ lists.
What is the best thing for students to do when they are stressed? What about anxiety? Do you have any methods that you could share with students to try?
Take a deep BREATH.
Depending on the person they can feel the same. Many times mine are imbedded/intertwined, and go hand in hand. For myself, sitting down and writing all the things that stress or create anxiety helps. I then automatically try to come up with solutions to those problems. If I cannot figure them out on my own, I reach out to people that have more expertise. I always suggest to students to write down how they are feeling, why, and what steps can they do to help rectify the situation. If they are not able to come up with a solution, reach out to family/faculty/peers/mentors or an academic or wellness professional.
When students get stressed about exams, what is one thing they could do that is easy before taking a test to calm their stress or anxiety?
Get sleep! That might mean non-caffeinated tea before bed, some physical activity to the quiet the body, eat healthy, have good self positive talk, be around others that support healthy habits both emotionally, mentally and physically.
Do you think stress impacts our students in all ways of life? Physically, mentally, academically..
Yes to all above! I do think students at CMU stress a lot about finances, friendships, family, intimate relationships, and a sense of belonging both in their respective departments, on the campus and beyond.
If students have anxiety or stress where is the best place they should go to relieve the stress or calm down?
I have only been at CMU for one year, so I do not believe I am the best person to ask….I am still learning everyday more resources for both the students and myself. Student Services is always open to students coming to them, our Wellness Center is fantastic. The athletic center has so many classes and ways for students to physically relieve stress & anxiety. Faculty work hard to be a resource for students, however they are not always the best resource if they are not mental health professionals.
I am always suggesting to students to get off campus. Go out in nature. Explore, try something new. There are amazing outdoor experiences that can be had very close to the campus. Nature offers one of the most reliable boots to your mental and physical well being. For myself the presence of water and ‘green exercise’ makes a world of a difference to my mental health.
