2 of 2

Write now Article Tools

The college years can be some of the most mentally and physically exhausting of an individuals life. It is often a person's first taste of independence and a time when they need to learn how to juggle different areas of their lives at once. No longer do most have their parents helping them pave the way as they had growing up. For this reason, burnout and stress are often high during this period and subsequently may lead to diminished mental health. There are many positive steps you can take to help prevent mental health concerns later in life as a result of your college years.

Burnout is an important factor to be mindful of throughout your adult life. It can strike at any time, due to a whole range of pressures. It is signified by a time in your life when everything becomes too much and you loose the ability to juggle the tasks you normally would and no longer gain the same enjoyment out of your job, personal life and relationships as you previously had.

The signs of burnout often include excessive tiredness, a loss of interest normal life activities, the inability to manage stressful situations and just general unhappiness and dissatisfaction. It can lead to more serious concerns, such as depression, anxiety and may even result in the individual experiencing a breakdown. By learning to identify these signs during your college years, you can get on top of your stress levels before they get on top of you, and this will set you up for a more successful future in preventing burnout. It may be that you need to attack your tasks in a different manner, perhaps with a list that can be checked off in order of importance. You may need a break from your activities or perhaps simply need to discuss your concerns with a counsellor or doctor. Burnout affects everyone at some point in their lives, so the sooner you are able to address the symptoms, the better off you will be in the future.

College is often a time of experimenting. For many, this will often mean weekend drinks with college friends, but for others this may become a more serious pattern, that can spiral out of control. It may begin with alcohol, binge drinking and partying hard. This may in turn lead to illegal drug use, such as marijuana, ecstasy, amphetamines and all other types of illicit drugs commonly available around the college campus. It may initially seem like a bit of harmless fun, however drug and alcohol use can easily lead to addiction and no one should believe they are immune to this. The pressures of college workloads, with assignments and research, may lead you to wish for a relief from those pressures and perhaps substance abuse gives you that sense of temporary relief.

The risks of substance abuse go well beyond the dangers of addiction. It can lead to further health risks and possibly even death. There is a high prevailance of mental health issues related to substance abuse. These are particuarly the case in relation to drug induced psychosis. Suicide attempts and self-harming behaviour also seem to be highly related to substance abuse behaviour and such behaviour can often develop into an ongoing pattern until the risks become deadly.

To help keep a healthy mind in the future, it is important to keep a healthy mind in your college years. The way you handle yourself at college will have a massive impact on the way you manage stressors, challenges and life situations in the future. It is also important to consider that the actions you choose now may have consequences on your health, both mental and physical, at a later time. The best way of setting yourself up for a healthy future is to remain healthy from the start. You are in charge of your own future now and it is time to start putting your best interests first.

Learn more about this author, Holly Rogers.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about College survival tips for mental health success in adult life?
We want to hear your view. Write now!