How to Support your Friends through School Stress
Sometimes, college students can feel like the weight of their entire life rests on one essay or exam, but it shouldn’t feel like that. Stressful situations are common but suffering from stress is not. If you notice one of your friends struggling, reach out. Offer your support in these ways:
Help Them Realize There’s A Problem
The first hurdle in helping a friend through their stress is making sure that they realize that their stress is an issue. Don’t let them just brush it aside. Sit them down and talk to them about their stress level and what you’ve noticed.
A lot of the time, students in college won’t even realize how bad a state they are in mentally until they are out of it. The first step to helping with stress is to admit that they have a problem.
Keep Open Communication
Listen to what they have to say. Offer your ear and your time for them. A good way to get rid of stress is to just let it out in a productive way. Let them trust you with their struggles and give positive and empathetic responses to them.
But what if they don’t feel like sharing? That’s fine! Let them know that you’ll always be there for them and check in on them periodically. Knowing that you’re there to listen if they ever want to share can be a huge comfort.
Offer Support
Ask them what they need and, if you’re able to, help wherever you can. If they’re stressed about an essay and you can help research? Do it. A test that they feel unprepared for? Help them study. Help them feel like they’re treading water instead of drowning under their workload. Sometimes that can make all the difference.
Help Them Relax
A nice and simple way to help someone with stress is to take their mind off of it completely. Go out and have fun. Or stay in and have fun. Remove the pressure of their classes for a little bit and let them relax.
Not only will this help them relax, but it most likely help you as well. If they’re willing, set aside specific times a week to do something together. The release of tension during these outings means that their stress won’t build week on top of week and they’ll be less likely to burn out.
Push them to get Professional Help
Professional help isn’t just for people who have mental disabilities or those who have constant ongoing issues. Psychologists are there to help everyone and anyone; from just listening as people talk, to giving pointers and advice to people who have trouble stabilizing themselves.
Therapy is for everyone, no matter what. They are there to help you, so don’t be afraid to push them towards a different kind of help than you can offer.
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