Headaches, nausea and body aches at the end of the semester canmean more than the common flu.
These symptoms might serve as warning signs for stress.
Gina Zanardelli, psychologist at Ball State's Counseling Center,said students tend to feel academic stress about final exams andprojects after Thanksgiving.
Zanardelli said people experience stress in different ways. Someexperience physical stress, she said.
"Their shoulders might tense up or they might get headaches,"Zanardelli said.
Queasiness and stomach aches can also indicate stress, shesaid.
People might also experience more emotional stress. Those peoplemight have trouble focusing and getting motivated, Zanardellisaid.
"You should remind yourself a little anxiety is expected," shesaid. "That's how a lot of people are going to feel."
Zanardelli said students can help themselves cope withstress.
"The most important one is self care," she said. "It might behard to imagine taking 20, 30 or even 15 minute study breaks."
She said people who take breaks stay more focused in the timethey do study. She suggests stretching, taking a walk or calling afriend during these breaks.
Zanardelli also suggested moderate caffeine and alcohol intake.Although these items might give an initial boost of energy orrelaxation, the effect will wear off.
As studying grows frustrating, Zanardelli said, students mightneed positive self-talk to remedy feelings of helplessness.
Zanardelli said students who have experienced semester's endbefore need to remind themselves that they got through it lasttime, and if the last time was filled with last-minute cramming andall-nighters, Zanardelli said students should make a reasonableschedule and prioritize which tasks must be done first or whichones are most important.
When stress begins to surface, Zanardelli suggests steppingback, taking deep breaths and examining the stressor. Relaxationtechniques like deep breathing, visualizations and progressivemuscle relaxation can clear the mind and body of stresssymptoms.
Students can also focus on an exciting part of finishing thesemester.
"They can say, 'Once I'm done, I get to do x, y and z. I've putthese things off,'" she said.
Some people, however, take longer to decompress, she said.
Studying early can help students avoid last-minute crammingsessions, but if students have put their tasks off until the end,Zanardelli does not advise compromising health to save grades. Shesaid there must be a point where students have done all they canand try to make next semester different.
Students who want to get the next semester off on the right footcan find help at the Learning Center in North Quad Room 323.
The Learning Center does not offer tutoring during finals weekbecause the tutors need time to prepare for finals also, DaveOwens, interim core curriculum coordinator, said.
Also, Owens said, waiting until the end of the semester to seekhelp from the Learning Center might increase stress.
"They begin to get nervous when we tell them we can't help themin one hour to study for a final," Owens said.
Owens said the Learning Center sees an influx of students at thebeginning of the semester.
Most students who are interested in a tutor for core curriculumcourses usually come in, make an appointment and then meet with thesame tutor weekly, he said.
Owens said some students make one-time appointments, butstudents benefit more from meeting throughout the semester.
"We want the tutor and student to build a relationship over thecourse of the semester and help one another," he said.
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