College is difficult. You are thrust into this environment where you are expected to sustain a high GPA, work to pay your bills and fees, maintain an active and healthy social/dating life, study regularly, get involved in clubs and organizations, volunteer, and experience internships all at the same time. It is no wonder that mental health issues amid college students are rapidly increasing, and what is even worse is that many students already suffer from mental illness prior to reaching college. According to collegestats.org, at least 50% of college students rated their mental health below average or poor, at least 40% fail to seek help, and at least 30% have reported to have issues with school because of their illness. Depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and addiction are among the most common, and getting professional help can be not only costly, but scary. Fortunately, there are tactics to help cope with these. They may not be a substitute for therapy, but a little of something can go a long way.
Keep busy.
Allow me to break this vague statement down. Oftentimes, our mental health issues cause us to laze around, remain in bed, sleep, watch Netflix, just overall not doing anything that can contribute to any aspect of our life. It could be due to lack of motivation, or it could be because your body has physically taken a toll on you. Having downtime is good and actually encouraged, but it becomes an issue when you are not getting anything done. In fact, being productive with your school work is a great way to feel more intelligent, accomplished, and driven. It does not even necessarily have to be schoolwork. You can be productive by teaching yourself a new language, learning a new song on an instrument, or joining a club. There are days that we feel completely inept, and the emotions previously listed are associated with coming back to life and essentially feeling as though we are capable of great things.
Tidy up.
They say that the cleanliness of your living space can be an indication of the status on your mental health. Though this theory may not apply to everyone, it has been proven that cleaning can help with anxiety. This may be due to the fact that you are in complete control of what and how you clean, and you can actually see tangible results when you finish which definitely calls for some peace of mind. Additionally, your living space, whether it is your dorm, apartment, or house, should be a place where you feel safe and calm. Coming home from class and seeing papers everywhere, makeup all over the counter, and clothes scattered on the floor is only going to add to the ever-persistent stress, so try turning on some music and dedicating an hour or so to cleaning up where you live. Positive results are the only thing you can yield from this.
Go to the gym.
If you are anything like me, you have gone to the gym twice in a row and then never again for the next eight months; however, I have started to realize that exercising is way more benefits than achieving your dream body. Not only does it reap the same benefits as cleaning and being productive by seeing tangible results and feeling more accomplished, but it is scientifically proven that working out releases endorphins, or “feel-good” chemicals in your brain. Even more than that, exercising can eventually raise your self esteem, stimulate the growth of brain cells, and give you more energy throughout your days. At first, going to the gym can be tiring, nerve wracking, and overall physically painful, but rest assured that your mind and body will thank you for it.
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Be with the right people.
There is nothing worse than being surrounded by people who undermine your bad days, or make you feel as though it is your fault that you suffer from any mental health issues especially if you see these people every day. I cannot stress how important it is to be careful who you keep in your company because they can either exacerbate your illness or inspire you to get better. Make sure your friends are people who listen intently, validate your emotions, and just offer a shoulder to lean on. You deserve to feel safe around them, and you deserve to be able to talk about the way you are feeling without any sort of remorse.
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Above anything else, the most important thing to take away is that this is your body, and that you are the only one who is going to be there with you in the end. Combating mental illness is neither an overnight process, nor is it a fun journey, but it is something you can learn from. You are, always have been, and always will be worthy of feeling content in your mind and body.
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