Health Center urges test-takers to avoid all-nighters, stressful situations

Winter break is just around the corner, and many students are looking forward to having homemade food, seeing their families and taking a break from school. But this vacation comes at a cost: Students must face their final exams before they can hit their parents’ couches to channel surf in bliss.

As finals are approaching faster than many students want to believe, they should keep in mind how to manage their stress levels to avoid an anxiety or panic attack. The Counseling and Psychological Services department of the Health Center plans to help students during this time of need.

CAPS has many tips and programs for students.

Director of CAPS, Nancy J. Stockton, emphasized the importance of avoiding all-nighters.

“Get enough sleep,” Stockton said.

It’s very important for the memory functions of the brain to work, and a good night’s sleep will help students more than a night of cramming, she said.

Sophomore Hallie Geyh said she learned firsthand that getting sleep is more important than studying. After becoming ill during her finals freshman year, she said she knows what not to do now and is going to try to start studying before dead week, or “before stress can cling onto you.”

Stockton also said students should eat healthy, even though this is sometimes difficult while in college, and they should avoid people who raise their stress levels, especially during finals.

The Health Center’s Web site, http://healthcenter.indiana.edu/caps.html, also contains suggestions on how to reduce stress.

Freshman Kristin Wyke isn’t worried about finals yet but said she knows her stress levels will rise as finals get closer. As for right now, she said she is excited because finals mean classes are over.

Geyh agreed, saying she isn’t concerned yet and won’t be as long as she keeps on track.

Both students said they probably won’t become stressed until the day before their exams.

But for students who are worried about finals, CAPS wants to help.

The department is co-sponsoring an event with the Herman B Wells Library for stress management before final exams.

The event will take place Dec. 9 to 11 in both the Wells library and the School of Education. During the events, massage therapists will give free massages.

Students will have the opportunity to learn more about the CAPS programs, learn about healthy ways to handle their stress and take an anonymous screening for anxiety disorders.

Games, chocolate, free relaxation CDs and many other stress-relieving activities will be available to students. Chris Meno, psychologist for CAPS, said the program is “supposed to be a little break” for students.

The staff created the program because it “wanted to educate students about how to manage stress in a healthier way,” Meno said.

Christy Duffy-Paiement, a pre-doctoral intern at CAPS, mentioned a student’s stress level doesn’t need to be extreme for this event to benefit them.

Duffy-Paiement and Meno encourage all students to learn more about stress management.

“I’m excited to see students remember how stress-relieving some very simple activities are,” Meno said.