Parents’ Guide on College Stress Yadi Anguino, PsyD; David Rudesill, LCSW; & Maritza Nigro, LCSW  Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) Student Health Center California State University, Los Angeles

OVERVIEW: Why is college so stressful? Stress vs. Chronic distress Symptoms (Anxiety, Depression, Drug and Alcohol abuse, Eating Disorder, Suicidality Solutions & Skills

What Makes College So Stressful? Academic demands Forming new friendships Adjusting to new environment on one’s own Relationship issues Financial responsibilities Exposure to new people, ideas, cultures, temptations, etc. Awareness of one’s sexual identity and orientation American College Health Association (ACHA), National College Health Assessment, 2014

How Important are these stressors? ACHA, 2014 Overall, 43.7% of students rated their stress level as more than average Students rated stress (30.3%), anxiety (21.8%), sleep difficulties (21.0%) and depression (13.5%) as the highest factors that affected individual academic performance 33% of students said that they felt “so depressed that it was difficult to function” 47% felt that “things were hopeless” at least once in the previous year 54% of students felt “overwhelming anxiety” at least once in the previous year 87% of students felt “overwhelmed” by all they had to do”

What is Stress? Stress is the body’s reaction to a challenge The right kind of stress can sharpen the mind and reflexes, which may help with performance or escaping a dangerous situation Too much stress can impede performance and negatively impact health Fight or Flight Response

Chronic, ongoing distress What am I looking for? Normal College Stress Chronic, ongoing distress

Normal College Stress Examples: Stress from a deadline to finish; motivation Trying new things or engaging in new experiences; learning Building new relationships; connection Getting into a car accident Being self-motivated Not having all the answers for all problems

Chronic, Ongoing Stress 4 Primary Symptoms Physical: headaches, migraines, IBS, muscle tension, blurry vision, increased heart rate, difficulty breathing, nausea, fainting, chest tightness. Emotional: high emotional expression, tantrums, feeling cut-off or lacking emotion Cognitive: difficulty making decisions and thinking clearly, self-critical, self-doubt Behavioral: procrastination, avoidance, impulsive behaviors, abusing substances

MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS Most Common Less Common Trauma Anxiety Depression Suicidality Eating Disorders Drug & Alcohol Dependency Phase of Life Bipolar Disorder Schizophrenia or related disorders

What Can I Do to Help? You can make a difference!

Wellness and Care Sleep: Diet Exercise Reduce the demands at home so that they can allow time for rest Diet Exercise

Change the Communication Talk Help them make decisions on their own Ask questions Discuss expectations on communication Phone calls Texting Social media Address your concerns about their well-being Talking about their well being makes it easier to talk about sensitive topics, and reduces the likelihood of drug and alcohol use, anxiety, and even suicidality. Listen Most students would turn to their parents if they ever found themselves in an emotional breakdown (UMTV, JED Foundation).

Be Supportive Positive Praises Finals, end of semester, presentation, problem Encourage your son/daughter to make their own decisions Eases their anxiety, reassures them that they can make this happen. Encourage a social life It is healthy and helpful for students to have a positive outlet.

Resources Where can I seek more help?

RESOURCES Cal State LA Community CAPS OSD Mind Matters Student Health Center Academic Counseling Center Insurance National Suicide Prevention Hotline Community Agencies

QUESTIONS?

Vignette Your college student calls you on a Tuesday evening and tells you that they want to talk. You find this strange because they usually call to check-in on Friday to tell you about their plans for the weekend. They begin to tell you that they did poorly on a mid-term on a class that they were struggling in. As they tell you about their worry, you notice that they are talking very fast, and is having a tough time breathing.  Your college student is tearful, and is being hard on themselves.