With the end of the semester approaching, students may be experiencing a variety of internal challenges, such as stress and academic pressure.
The University Counseling Center (UCC) is a resource for students across campus to help students cope with stress, academic pressure, partner violence, eating patterns, harassment, identity concerns and other internal challenges.
“The UCC is committed to creating a welcoming and supportive space for all students. For those who have experienced marginalization and oppression, you and all of your identities are welcome here,” according to the UCC website.
Megan Belville, MS, LPC a counselor at the UCC who specializes in stress management, spoke about how stress affects relationships in college students.
“Stress and anxiety can continue to increase to the point that they may become disabling. For example, it can become more difficult to go to class, socialize, or take care of yourself,” Belville said.
“If these emotions get to the point that you are isolating yourself, it can affect your relationships,” Belville said.
Belville also illuminated that students handling assignments, tests, finances, and relationships, may isolate themselves from support in order to cope with their stress.
“This can be physical isolation of not seeing your loved ones, or even emotional separation and feeling like you can’t talk to them about it,” Belville said. “When our brain is overwhelmed with these emotions, it can also be easy to start to believe negative things about yourself and the world around you.”
“It’s like when you are sick with a cold and your immune system is down; it makes it easier to catch other illnesses. The same goes for mental health sometimes too.”
Students can set up appointments with the UCC through their website, their email, or their phone number for those who prefer to not come in person.
“The UCC can help with these things by seeing students for a couple of sessions for support. We also offer groups that are helpful to teach basic mindfulness skills such as Big Sky Mindfulness and KORU,” Belville said.
“There are also several places in town that offer counseling if students are looking for long-term support, and we can connect them to those.”
