^pendulum
STYLE
WEDNESDAY. APRIL 29, 2009 // PAGE 17
STRESS:
How to cope when anxiety strikes
Oaniel Koehler
jjporter
On the outside, it’s just an ordinary sketchpad.
M on the inside, it’s an Elon student’s journal, a
glimpse into someone’s raw and uncensored
lotions. The entries etched on well-worn pages
, triumph, deplore defeat and, of course, lament
' stress One page in particular is marked by hurried
ntnstrokes and fiery, staccato sentences.
‘I have too many things to do and not nearly
aiough time to do them,” the entry begins. “The 20-
pageresearch proposal. The astronomy midterm. The
setvice-iearning journals. The perpetual readings
due every day. Opera workshop, voice lessons and
Messiah' in Camerata. Working 11 hours a week. And
retaining friends and acquaintances. And staying
connected to my family. And never having time to
jotothe gym. Later this evening, I got a rather nasty
e-mail. I cried.”
As this cathartic account attests, college students
„eespecially susceptible to stress’evils. They bear the
often overwhelming burden of balancing academics,
' sociallife and extracurricular activities. According to
Iruce Nelson, director of Elon’s Counseling Services,
10tol2 percent of the student body sees counseling
staff. Of these, he said, a majority have stress-related
symptoms. Stress is a given. But what happens when
it heads your way?
"The first thing that goes is my health,” sophomore
ta Nice-Webh said. “Exercise, then eating, then
sleeping. Then my relationships will suffer. Then I’ll
start to prioritize my classes and my organizations,
llien I’ll stop being ahead in my work and, God
forbid, behind. It’s a downward spiral.”
Others experience stress’ effects differently.
‘1 eat lots of food,” said freshman David Munoz as
liegrahbed another handful of almonds. “I exercise,
loo. 1 sort of pretend I have nothing to do. More or
less, 1 try to find a means of distraction or escape.”
While satisfying an increased appetite might be
one stress-related symptom, there exists a whole slew
of physical, emotional and behavioral indications
associated with stress, including fatigue, irritability
and procrastination. According to Jana Lynn
Patterson, vice president for student life, students
may even turn to alcohol and drugs. Luckily, stress
and its symptoms often come in waves, affording
periods of respite. Sometimes, though, stress is not
so forgiving.
“Chronic stress has been associated with numerous
medical conditions such as cardiovascular disease,
ulcers, compromised immune system functioning and
most likely makes us more vulnerable to a variety of
illnesses,” Nelson said. “If someone remains stressed
too long, the result may be increased depression and
anxiety, or a combination of both. Approximately 85
percent of the students who come in for counseling
have some mixed symptoms of depression and
anxiety."
There’s no use denying it: stress compromises
personal well-being. But that doesn’t mean
you’re destined to a life of perpetual anxiety and
unhealthiness. Instead, healthy coping tactics can be
used to beat back stress. But not everyone knows these
tactics. In fact, many students engage in unhealthy
behaviors that actually worsen the situation.
“Putting stuff off is definitely not healthy,”
senior Zack Smith said. “Instead of making me feel
relaxed, it actually makes me feel more anxious
and overwhelmed, as I am only making it harder for
(myself) to get stuff done on time. Essentially, this
just makes me more stressed than I was before."
Like Smith, many students fear the snowball
effect, the downward spiral of doom — a constant,
gnawing, ever-growing stress. But with the proper
coping techniques, fear and anxiety can morph
into confidence. According to Nelson, it’s a matter
of finding a healthy activity best suited to your
personality, whether that be exercising or writing in
a journal. Patterson, who has mentored overwhelmed
students in the past, warns against overcommitting.
“Be willing and prepared to say ‘no’ to distractions
or activities which may not be conducive to your
meeting your goals,” she said.
Nelson and Patterson advise students to discuss
their stress and anxiety with a trusted friend, mentor
or family member. Students agree an outlet like this
is invaluable.
“I think talking to people is really healthy for me
because that’s when I talk about really personal or
conflicting issues," sophomore Jana Murdock said.
“It’s a good method for me to sort things out and
reduce my stress."
Still, sometimes these coping mechanisms don’t
work. In situations like these, the staff at Elon’s
counseling service can offer further help.
Nelson gives a final word of encouragement. “The
good news,” he says, “is that most of us are more
resilient than we might think.”
Though it may sometimes seem like it, the world
is not going to fall apart.
STRESSED OUT?
Try these healthy coping tips
Exercise
Take a walk
Write in a journal
See a funny movie
Don't take yourself too seriously
Break large tasks into smaller steps
Work downtime into your busy schedule
Be more patient with yourself and others
DJ Night
SUB Spring%ow Mer-Paity
featuring
Anonymous at 11 pm
us out at http//org.elon.edu/Ughthouse/
THE HONOR
SOCIETY OF
Phi Kappa Phi
Congratulations !
The Elon University chapter of Phi Kappa Phi would like to congratulate the following new initiates
who were selected to membership from the upper 7.5% of the junior class and upper 10% of the senior
and graduate classcs. These students were recognized at an induction ccremony on April 22"** for their
achievements. Chapter President Dr. Donna Van Bodcgraven gave the opening remarks and Dean of
the Elon College of Arts and Sciences Dr. Steven House delivered the address.
Graduate Students
Maxine Cassells
Helen Crompton
Alison M. Dancy
Rob A. Elbitar
Michelle Elysia Feiser
Thomas E. Flood
Christine Marie Brown Flowe
Miranda Rose Guyton
Anneliese Marie Lowman
Dawn P. Messinger
Victor Wayne Moran
Angela Wagner O'Daniel
Roger Gann Page
Erin Michelle Sanders
Caroline Bowen Thutt
Tracy Diane Walker Williams
Undergraduate Students
Carly Erin Altizer
Ashley Carmen Barnas
Alexandra Bauernschub
Daniel Joseph Bell
Katherine A. Berdan
Andrew Taylor Black
Ryan Matthew Bleam
Ellis Huchison Bridgets
Joshua Scott Brigham
Amanda Kathryn Brown
Devon Nicole Brown
Korey Alexandra Jung-Ae
Buecheler
James D. Burns
Kelsey A. Butt
Caroline Casey
Katelin Marie Clark
Kara Elizabeth Cowdrick
Jenny Bayles Cupero
Kelsey Christine Davis
Ashley M. Day
Katie Grace Day
Gabrielle Dean
Heather Nicole Dedrick
Lorelle M. Dennis
Martina Carrie Dent
Lee L. Dickinson
Michael Donald Donovan
Kimberly Brooke Duggins
Alexandra Marie Dunn
Lindsay Joanne Eversole
Kaitlyn Anne Fay
Rachael Ann Fine
Erin Christine Fitzgerald
Jessica L. Fiammer
Rebecca Diane Fogle
Katrina Jane Folsom
Alexandra L. Ford
Taylor Noel Foshee
Sarah Catherine Foushee
Stephanie Ann Franz
Sabine Martina Gempel
Erica Lee Gierlach
Abbe C. Golding
Benjamin Carey Goodwin
Emily Elizabeth Henderson
Scott Clibon Hockemeyer
Ahren Hoy
Jessica Marie Hoyle
Victoria Claire James
Christopher Carleton Jarrett
Sarah Calhoun Jenny
Eva Christine Jorgensen-Graham
Caitlynjuengel
Megan Nicole Justice
Jennifer Michelle Kennedy
Amanda Danielle Kennison
Elisabeth Paige Kensrue
Amanda Lee Ketner
Michael Ralph Kleinmann
Tess Lockhart Kukovich
Carolyn M. Kurtz
Katherine Elizabeth Lampe
Heather Rose Laskin
Stacy Elizabeth Laue
David James Lawton
Evin Rose Lipman
Andrea Lee March
Stacey Allison Markham
Roxanne May Mauck
Amanda Annette McBride
John Ryan McGreevy
Jordan McNeill
Valery C. Menard
Katherine Leigh Meyer
Alexandra Milan
Kelly Rebecca Molin
Natalie Jeanne Moore
Stephen E. Murray
Michelle Caroline Newman
Anne K. Nicholson
Andrea Lynn Noel
Amanda Olmstead
Caroline Marie Peckels
Rachel Marisa Perlman
Rachel Marie Perron
Monica D. Poteat
Susan Angela Ramer
Caitlin Arica Rantala
Nichole Marie Rawlings
Tyler Stephens Reese
Emily Elizabeth Rice
Sara Elizabeth Riek
Lindsay Ann Ring
Erica N. Rossi
Matthew Paul Ruff
Natalie Sayag
Brett Robert Scuiletti
Patricia Michele Serdy
Hilary Jeanette Sheets
Joseph Allen Simmons
McNeill Smart
Christine Rachel Smith
Heather Nichole Smith
Kinsey Nicole Spencer
Avra Weisberg Stackpole
Amanda R. Stamplis
Molly Shannon Strayer
Andrew T. Sturm
Kevin A. Swett
Hollis Lynn Theard
Alex Michael Trevisan
Suzanne Ashley Uliano
Arwen Varner
Gregory Alexander Walton
Laura Beth Ward
Amanda Brittany Wilson
Clayton Winkelvoss
PhiKappaPhi.org