Something that is rarely talked about but affects many students’ lives is the state of their mental health. As students at Wilfrid Laurier University, we are extremely lucky to be members of such an inviting community around campus and in Waterloo. However, even being members of a community as inclusive and warm as ours, mental health is something that many still fear talking about. Twenty per cent of Canadians will experience mental illness at some point in their life, according to the Canadian Mental Health Association. If it’s so common, why is there such a stigma attached to it?
Luckily, in recent years, companies such as Bell Canada have been working towards shedding light on this issue through movements such as the “Bell Let’s Talk” campaign, where money is raised through social media for the cause. Although this campaign has helped create a dialogue around mental illness, there is still a long road ahead before the stigma is fully broken.
For those who suffer from mental illness, whether it is mild, moderate, or heavy, something such as exam time, which is an immensely stressful period for anyone, is particularly difficult. Anyone who has experienced anxiety first-hand, or even second-hand, understands just how debilitating it can be. However, there are ways to reduce the anxiety felt during exam time. I hope these steps listed may help some students. As well, there are on-campus resources listed at the bottom of the page.
Lavender
Lavender has a soothing scent known to reduce signs and symptoms of anxiety in women. This is due to the supposed anxiolytic effect the lavender possesses. In order to use lavender to combat anxiety, one can take lavender extract orally through capsules or essential oils.
Mindful Meditation
Mindfulness meditation consists of becoming in touch with one’s mental and spatial awareness through breathing and relaxation exercises. It has been proven that by taking up the practice of mindfulness meditation, one can very effortlessly ease their stress and anxiety and slip into a much more soothing and calm state of mind. Practicing mindfulness meditation can be beneficial in a variety of ways. It allows you to focus on bettering your state of mind by developing an understanding that your mindset is creating the stress and anxiety, not the reality of the situation. Clearing your mind is like hitting the reset button so you can re-evaluate and focus on what needs to be done. I recommend downloading the “Calm” app for iPhone and Android.
Exercise
Exercising and staying in shape is a great way to combat anxiety and stress. The reason for this centers around the fact that not only does self-esteem contribute a great deal to one’s overall mental health, but exercising releases endorphins which are neurotransmitters that make one’s brain feel at ease and happy. During exams, it may be tricky to find time to exercise, but there are ways to make this method work regardless. Going for a quick run is something that can take as little as fifteen minutes and will have the same effect. As well, doing some sit-ups before or after a test may allow for this effect to take place.
Get Enough Sleep
To function at full capacity, it is extremely important that you are not only are receiving the right amount of sleep, but that you maintain a consistent sleep pattern. Less sleep makes you more likely to become agitated, which will heighten stress levels. For people aged 18-25, it is suggested that you get 7-9 hours of sleep. During exam time, students often lack adequate sleep due to late night studying and early wake ups. But, it is actually less productive to study while tired. It is much more productive and efficient to get a good night’s rest. As well, when tired, your brain is unable to retain the same amount of information as it can when well rested.
Hopefully these tips are able to help some students relieve their stress and anxiety.
I’ve listed below some resources on the Wilfrid Laurier campus to help those struggling to cope with anxiety and mental illness if needed.
Waterloo Student Wellness Centre
Email: wellness@wlu.ca
Telephone: (519) 884 0710 x3146
SAFEHawk App
SAFEHawk is a free app for iPhones and Androids that connects students to helplines.