Surviving Harvey: Student Stress Strategies
September 11, 2017 | by Department of Counseling and Special Populations
As Lamar University students, you are facing unprecedented obstacles as you begin your Fall 2017 semester. Some of you are confronting loss and displacement. Others are vigorously helping rebuild the community. With the storm's effects still evident, you may be struggling with coping after Hurricane Harvey.
Lamar University's Department of Counseling and Special Populations wants students to be equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to reclaim their lives after disaster strikes. Below are just some of the stressful thoughts students may experience, during this post-Harvey semester, as well as insights on proactively managing stress and your transition back into student life.
LU Student Distress Strategy Guide
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| The start of this semester hasn't been easy for me. I feel like there are bigger things for me to deal with right now. How do I start to concentrate on school? |
You have to start somewhere. Although classes have just begun, start setting your routines and keeping them. Establishing a new or temporary routine is the best strategy for coping. |
| With another storm out there, the constant media coverage keeps me feeling down. |
Avoid the media trap. Take a break from TV and social media! Be aware if too much media and images of the storm are triggering your stress. |
| I want to be at school, but I also want to help out in the community. How do I manage this? |
It’s about balance. You can be a great student and help out by participating in organizations like Harvey Heroes. |
| I am the type of person who doesn’t share feelings or problems with others. I worry about taking up someone’s time but I feel pretty overwhelmed about everything. |
Remember, it is OKAY to feel this way. Don't keep quiet because you don't want to upset others or because you're worried about being a burden. Stay connected and trust that there are others in the same situation who will listen and care. |
| How do I maintain my grades when there is so much to do after the storm? |
First and foremost, don’t be afraid to reach out to your instructor. Believe it or not, they want you to succeed and will be glad you did. Again, establish a study plan and surround yourself with people and habits that help you succeed. |
| Should I really feel so down right now? Other people lost more than me. |
In the mental health world, this is called vicarious trauma, which is when you are exposed to so many stories of fear, pain, and suffering. Try not to be so hard on yourself. Although some of your friends have had it worse, you are still experiencing the aftermath of the impact of Harvey |
| Last week, volunteers were handing out water and all kinds of food items. I feel some guilt for getting these things because there are so many people who probably need them more than I do. |
The supplies and help are there for everyone. Sharing some of the resources you pick up with others in your dorm or community helps to bring people together. |
Avoid too much media. Images of storm-related damage are hard to discard if you don't change the channel. Instead, make a point to focus on the positive things in your life. This is a good time to spend with family and friends.
Keep your routines. An important part of healing is doing the activities you normally enjoy. A sense of normalcy will also inspire others to do the same. Routine is one of the most effective cures for recovering after life has been disrupted.
Acknowledge the changes. Life has changed significantly since the storm and personal belongings might have been damaged or destroyed. Even if you didn't lose anything, it is normal to still feel down about what has happened. Talk about the things you have witnessed—both the difficult and inspiring ones.
Learn the side effects of stress. Stress and anger are typical responses after a disaster, especially because regular life can be more difficult. Practice self-awareness and learn your personal stress signs. Remember that there is no one right way to react to all you, your friends, and your family have been through. Self-awareness is the first step in identifying some of your struggles. Sharing them with someone you trust is the next.
Remember to communicate. This might be a good time to applaud yourself for caring so much about helping others and for also staying true to your own goals as a student. Sticking with your college plan and using open communication with your instructor is a good first start for transitioning into your role as a student. Remember, your instructors WANT you to be successful. If you missed a class or assignment, take a few deep breaths and pick up the phone or send an email.
Slow down. You might feel like you are at full speed and your mind is racing. At the end of the day, try sitting in silence and focus on slow, deep breathing. Stay with it a while as you focus on your long inhales and exhales. It's okay if your mind wanders. Gently bring your focus back to your breaths. Congratulations: you have just succeeded in some mindfulness meditation. Doing this exercise each evening will help slow your heart rate which, in turn, helps to calm your mind and relieve both the physical and mental effects of stress.
Maintain balance. After a disaster, there is no right, wrong, or one-size-fits-all way to help in the recovery efforts. Give yourself permission to be okay with any type of help you can offer. It can be as simple as taking the time to listen to a friend after class or forming a study-support group. Just remember to balance your helping and volunteer efforts with your own personal commitment to your well-being and academic goals.
Self-Care
In terms of stress, natural emergencies cause unique challenges. You might feel fine at times. Other times, you might experience new fears or worries that you didn't have in the past. Here are some self-care ideas for moving out of stress and moving into student life.
- It might sound strange, but one of the best ways you can help yourself is to talk to (and listen to) others. Sharing stories can help you and others to feel more connected.
- Try making a list of some changes, fears, and worries. Then assign them names or can divide them into subjects, such as worries about your family, your grades, or your community. Next, try talking to someone about the ones that stand out to you. This will reduce the amount of energy these thoughts take from you during unexpected times during the day. Instead of the worry taking control of you, you take control over them.
- Consider creating a personal journal about the ways in which the hurricane made life harder for you and those around you. Be sure to include stories of resilience! For each difficulty, recognize at least one of the strengths you noticed and how this strength in yourself or others was inspiring to you.
- Focus on staying well. Keep a healthy diet, habits, and sleep. Be aware that alcohol does not help stress and can actually disrupt your natural sleep cycle, causing more problems than it is worth. Eat well, exercise, and try something new…like herbal tea. A warm beverage can be soothing, relaxing, and help to settle the day when you feel stretched too thin.
If you need more help or resources, the LU Student Health Center specializes in medical and emotional support for LU and LIT students. Your request to talk to a counselor is confidential. For more information call 409-880-8466.
The opinions and statements found on the Lamar University blog belong solely to the articles' authors and contributors and do not necessarily represent the those of Lamar University. Lamar University does not endorse products (unless otherwise stated) and encourages students to use critical thinking and good judgment while navigating online.
