MDC Offers Free Resources To Help You De-Stress
Overdue assignments, economic hardships and time management issues.
Those are all problems college students face, and while those things can make you feel overwhelmed, you are not alone.
According to a recent study by the American Addiction Center, nearly 88 percent of college students report suffering from stress, which can come from a variety of aspects including our social and personal lives.
Imagine if your stress was a 50-pound bag.
After getting used to lugging it around in your day-to-day life, the bag may start to feel natural. However, the smallest problem or situation can make the bag heavier, causing you to lose your balance.
When we lose our balance, we start to feel like everything is impossible to solve. Once we fall into the trap of hopelessness, we begin to lose sleep, suffer higher irritability and increased negative thoughts.
Throughout my college years, I’ve had to work up to 60 hours a week to afford my education. At some point, the work became draining and I was left with only a few hours to focus on school.
When my sleeping and eating habits began to suffer because of it, I began to experience daily mental breakdowns.
It wasn’t until I reached that breaking point that I realized I needed to reach out for help and take care of my mental health. Ever since then it feels like I’ve removed a huge weight off my shoulders.
As Miami Dade College students we are offered a plethora of resources to liberate us from stress.
Through Single Stop—a college-wide program that aims to help students better navigate college life—you are entitled to 10 hours of free therapy with a licensed psychologist. Sessions can take place virtually or physically from Monday to Saturday depending on your schedule.
For immediate emotional support and other mental health-related services, you can also call the 24-hour MDC student crisis and support line at 1-888-983-0033 or the 211 Helpline.
Asking for help allowed me to overcome my stress issues.
Stress is a serious topic that shouldn’t be underestimated. If not taken care of, it can ruin your life by contributing to health-related issues like depression, substance abuse and high blood pressure.
Don’t be afraid to seek help by talking to a counselor or friend and attending workshops to improve your mental health. It’s never too late to take care of yourself.
