University Foundation Scholars Retreat

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University Foundation Scholars Retreat

• July 30, 2004

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Introduction

• Professional Observations
• Professional Recommendations

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American College Health Association (ACHA)

• Spring 2004 -National College Health Assessment
  (NCHA)
• N 682 Web Surveys

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Academic Impacts

• Within the last year students reported the
  following factors affecting their individual
  academic performance, i.e. received an
  incomplete, dropped a course, received a lower
  grade in a class, on an exam, or on an important
  project.

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Top 10

• 10. Alcohol Use (4.6)
• Allergies (4.6)
• 9. Attention Deficit Disorder (6.5)
• 8. Death of a friend/family member (10.8)
• Internet use/computer games (10.8)

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Top 10 Cont.

• 7. Sinus infection/ear infection/bronchitis/strep
  throat (11.7)
• 6. Depression/anxiety/seasonal affective
  disorder (12.2)
• 5. Relationship Difficulty (15.3)
• 4. Concern for a troubled friend or family
  member (17.8)

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Top 10 Cont.

• 3. Sleep Difficulties (24)
• 2. Cold/flu/sore throat (24.8)
• 1. Stress (32.4)

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Health Enhancement Risk Reduction

• Protective practices and healthy beliefs
• Health-positive behaviors
• Emotional Intelligence EQ

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Keep Situations in Perspective

• Has this happened before? What did I learn from
  that experience?
• What is the worst possible outcome? (Be
  realistic)
• What else can I do?
• What advice would I give to a friend in this
  situation?
• Five years from now will I even remember this
  event?
• Is this event likely to change the course of
  history?

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Use Self-Dialogue

• Someday well laugh about this
• Its a learning experience
• Things could be worse
• Ill get over it
• Calm down
• Every cloud has a silver lining
• Take things day by day
• Its not the end of the world
• I have handled more serious situations in the
  past
• I can make a plan to handle this
• What is it I have to do?

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Keep a Positive Attitude

• It is hard to smile when things are going wrong.
  There are times when you need to blow off steam
  or express your resentment. But letting negative
  emotions take over completely only makes the
  situation worse. If you focus on the positives,
  youre more likely to find a way out. A positive
  attitude can be contagious, making it easier to
  live and work with others. In times of stress,
  it is better to spend time with people who are
  positive rather than those who tend to see the
  worst in every situation.

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Stress Resistant Personality Traps

• Unrealistic expectations
• Constant dissatisfaction
• Inability to relax
• Always in a hurry
• Constantly worrying about little things
• Making things seem worse than they really are

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Developing a Stress-Resistant Personality

• Getting regular (non-competitive) exercise
• Consider problems as challenges
• Look for possibilities and creative solutions
• Buffer stress with a commitment to family,
  friends, spiritual and community activities
• Develop a support group by getting involved and
  keeping in touch with others
• Getting proper rest
• Learn to be helpful and give to others

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Reality

• Accept the fact that things dont always work the
  way we want or expect.

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The Wheel of Life

• Distribute Hand-out
• Provide Instruction
• Discuss

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Student Counseling Center

• Range of Services
• 964-7000
• www.svsu.edu/counseling