<p>I'm posting this in the parents forum because you guys are more experienced in life. Ok, I'm starting to attend college in a few weeks. I'm worried about the stress I'll face. Basically my question is; does one have to face stress by doing a lot of things? I always hear of people being stressed out in college because of the rigor, social life etc. But, isn't also true that if one is truly passionate about what they are doing, they would get in the "flow" so to speak and truly enjoy themselves? I mean even if someone studies a subject they enjoy for hours on end, they shouldn't be stressed right?</p>
<p>Look, if this is your first experience at college and being away from home there is going to be a certain amount of stress. The unknown and unfamiliar can produce anxiety. However as time goes on and you become more comfortable and have gotten into a routine you probably are going to feel better about things. Meeting new people and finding your tribe will help. Time management is going to be a challenge for you and while you may passionate about whatever it is you are doing, there is also the mundane things that have to be done. Once you get a handle on the "lay of the land" you should be ok. Just make sure you do some of the things that will keep your game up and that is Time management, Rest and play, exercise, reasonable expectations of yourself and a handful of friends that you can do things with.
And of course if things feel very anxious then by all means utilize any of the campus counselling services that are available to students to help make the adjustment to campus life easier. Good luck.</p>
<p>I think stress comes with the territory any time you are doing something new and intense and demanding. You can be passionate about something and still feel stress about it. Milkandsugar's ideas are good. </p>
<p>If you've had anxiety or difficulties with stress before, it's a good idea to check in with the counselling center in the first week or two of school. If you ever need them, it will be easier if you've already touched base.</p>
<p>I see stress different than many do. It's a way of thinking that works for me. I see stress as the anxiety that builds when one isn't as prepared as he could be, in matters that are within his control. In other words, I see a clear separation of things in my contol, out of, or somewhere in between. For things within my control, I try to prepare as best I can, then go for it and have no regrets. Not to say I am always 100% right, but to say if I know I did the best I could, I don't worry if I've made a wrong decision. There is a real confidence that comes with knowing one has tried his best, whether or not he has actually succeeded. When I err, I learn, try to correct it then go on. If I haven't fully prepared but then do poorly, I get mad at me for that. I'm in the landlord business, and that's how I approach my philosophy there. Do I buy a house or not? At what price? Let it pass? I rarely feel stress because I try to be prepared for what might arise. I sleep good at night, even though I wake up with a dozen or so mortgages.</p>
<p>CoffeeBreak:</p>
<p>I think you have it generally correct. Stress is in the mind and what's stress for one person is nothing at all for the next person. If you're doing something you enjoy, you're likely not going to feel stress. Even being under pressure doesn't necessarily cause one to feel stressed. Having to perform when you're not prepared to or being forced to do things you don't want to do can, however, cause one to feel stress.</p>
<p>If I was tasked to do open heart surgery on someone I'd definitely feel a lot of stress since I'm not a doc but to some docs that's basically what they do every day so they don't feel stressed from it. Conversely, if that doc were to have been put in some situations I've been in in the past they might feel stressed whereas I wasn't. </p>
<p>In college you'll likely hit some times of stress but you can mitigate it some if you give it some thought. Don't put yourself in situations where you're forced to perform when you're not prepared - i.e. be as prepared as possible for tests, don't put yourself in potentially stressful situations by missing classes due to recovering from a previous night drinking binge or by staying up all night playing video games or something and then sleeping through a mid-term. Do what you have control over and try not to worry (i.e. stress) over the things you have no control over. If you try hard but get a poor grade then you know you need to try harder, work differently, get a different prof, or perhaps skip that subject matter/major and move on to something else.</p>
<p>Somehow the vast majority of college students handle what's thrown at them reasonably well and you likely will too. Don't worry about it - just be as prepared as you can and don't forget to take care of your body with what you eat and how you exercise, and don't forget to take care of your mind with some well deserved time off every now and then listening to music, engaging in conversations, studying something completely different, etc.</p>
<p>Stress comes from many things. In this case, it sounds you're stressed about possibly being stressed. This makes sense because fear of the unknown is a known primary cause of stress. </p>
<p>You might refer back in your life to times in which you were stressed or afraid of something new that was about to start - going away, starting school, whatever. If you can put yourself back there, then remember how everything was okay once you got started in the new venture, you can give yourself some reassurance that you do, in fact, know how to handle the unknown. </p>
<p>Another method you might try is to put yourself in the position of your classmates. You are feeling the exact same emotions they are feeling right now. Everyone does. Those who say they don't are either lying or weird. When you get to school you might confess your fears to people who seem genuine. Having comrades with whom to suffer can make it easier.</p>
<p>My D1 is stressed right now over starting college. I think this is a good thing. Sometimes we need the adrenalin that stress brings. Part of our survival kit. Just don't let it get out of hand and figure out how to let off steam in a healthy safe way.</p>
<p>CoffeeBreak, I see by your info that you are a Bruin. Congratulations on getting into UCLA! :)</p>
<p>Keep in mind that the first one or quarters will be the most stressful for you. After that you will get the hang of the studying for midterm/finals routine, and you will become more confident in yourself. It really does get better as you go along, so keep your chin up.</p>
<p>You also have a lot to look forward to. You will meet the best friends you have ever had in your life, do some of the most amazing things that you can imagine, and have more fun than you ever thought possible.</p>