Dear A tightly wound spring,                                

All work (or studying) and no play can certainly take a toll on you, both emotionally and physically. It's common for students to feel stressed out by their academic demands, so know that you're not the only one who gets wound up. Relaxation practices may release some of your tension, but it might also be worthwhile to check in with a counselor about how to address the root cause of your stress and panic attacks.

There are a variety of techniques that can help to relax your mind and body after a long day of hitting the books. You could try some of these stress-relievers in the morning, to help you start the day on the right foot, or between study sessions, to renew your energy throughout the day. Here are few ways to make stress more manageable:

• Turn up the volume. Music has a powerful effect on mood. Experiment with nature sounds, soft jazz, or more energizing tunes with a hot beat to combat your stress.
• Get moving. Exercise boosts feel-good chemicals in your brain called endorphins and provides a physical outlet for pent-up worries. Other schools of movement like yoga and tai chai can also help to relax the body and clear the mind.
• Say ooohm. There are many approaches to meditation, but some common elements include rhythmic breathing, visualizing a peaceful place, and repeating a mantra.   
• Rub it in. Take a study break with a friend and take turns giving each other a quick shoulder rub. At Columbia, the Stressbusters team offers neck and rubs at select CU public events, and you can bring them to your organization, residence hall, school, or office.

In addition to relaxation techniques, it may be helpful to pinpoint what specifically is causing you to feel so stressed out. For example, you mentioned that you feel like you need to work around the clock to stay on top of your schoolwork. Is your stress related to a lack of down time or pressure to do well academically or perhaps both? Are you taking a particularly challenging course load this semester or has school-related stress been an ongoing problem for you?

Once you nail down the source of your worries, you can make life changes that get to the root of the problem and prevent stress from building up in the first place. For example, the difficulty balancing academics and personal time is a common source of stress for students. If time management is your biggest concern, you could try making a detailed schedule that lays out time for classes, studying, meals, exercise, and other activities you enjoy minute by minute for each upcoming week. Another option would be to set aside one of your commitments for a while to free up space in your schedule. Is there an activity that you can take a break from or a way to reduce your course load in the future? Taking control of your schedule may require some tough choices, but in return, hopefully you'll feel more at ease throughout the day.

Stress has a pesky way of blurring the big picture, and magnifying troublesome details. To help you put things into perspective, you may want to talk with a counselor about your recent stress and panic attacks. Students at Columbia can call x4-2878 to talk with a clinician at Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS). They also offer a variety of support groups, including some related to stress and time management. While you're booking appointments, consider visiting a health care provider at Primary Care Medical Services (PCMS) to treat your eczema. To make an appointment at PCMS, call x4-2284 or log on to Open Communicator.

Setting high academic standards is something to be proud of, but all studying and no personal time may quickly leave you burnt out. By taking time out to relax and addressing the real source of your stress, you'll "wind up" happier and more productive in the long run!

Alice

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