Hello Nunsaites,
Welcome back .
This week editorial piece will be addressing why a few of us are developing anxiety and stress disorders on campus.
Quite a number of us seems to be struggling with reversing the induced adverse mental health status and upscaling our academic status. This is not just a projection but a practical deduction from unfolding events. An analysis by CDC on youth risk behavior surveillance and trends from 2011-2021 reflects that 42% students feel persistently sad and hopeless, that is, of 10 students you meet, an average of 4 look / are sad and hopeless.
Academic pressure, demanding academic contents, high expectations of academic grades have predisposed students to poor diet, reduced sleep hours, impaired social relationship and thus, are vulnerable to adverse mental health status. Physiologically, it has been explained that stressful states increase the cortisol level in individuals which drive glucose stores from liver for proper brain function. With time, the stores empty and feeling of fatigue along other sets in. Psychologically, stress disrupt the production and release of the ‘feel good hormone’ ; dopamine in us. As nursing student we can relate more to this progression.
Despite theoretical justifications and statistics of students who develop adverse metal health status from these stressors, the academic community is yet to acknowledge the incidences and as such, we have to develop coping mechanisms to adjust to the pressures.
First, whether or not you have exams or test, ensure you have at least 7 hours of sleep daily. This helps to regulate your cortisol levels. This is often overlooked but has a lot of effect on your well-being.
Sleep is important for recuperating the body systems and allowing us to process memories. If we don’t get enough sleep, this can make us more irritable, impact on our concentration, coordination and memory and make us more vulnerable to mental health problems or exacerbate existing ones.
Exercise: This doesn’t have to be a gruelling gym session or a ten mile run – you simply need to get your heart racing, for example by going for a brisk walk or a bike ride.
Listening to music, reading, baking or crafts.
Eat healthily and consume fresh foods.
Take a break from social media sometimes. Comparing yourself and your productivity to others is a recipe for disaster.
Laugh and spend time with friends. With your friends you can express fully how you feel about stressors and you can all find mutual ways to cope with it
‘Self-care is really important when we are facing challenges and experiences that have the potential to overwhelm us and create stress. Consider establishing a self-care routine and schedule and prioritise activities that will support your coping mechanisms, for example, exercise, eating regularly and well, fluids, sleep, hygiene, social engagements and ‘downtime’ hobbies.’

Khadijat