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         COLLEGE STRESS EXPLORATION


         All sorts of situations and experiences can cause stress during college. Furthermore, everyone has a unique response
         to any potential stressor. One way to assess your individual situation is to look at the different areas of your life, and
         rate how much stress you are experiencing in each at the current time. Use a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 being the
         lowest possible level of stress, and 10 being the highest possible level:
         ____   1.  Increased independence and responsibility  ____   9.  Performance on tests
         ____   2.  Family relationships                     ____  10.  Physical health and fitness
         ____   3.  Friend relationships                     ____  11.  Mental health and balance
         ____   4.  Academic relationships (instructors, student   ____  12.  Academic planning (major, etc.)
                 peers, administration, etc.)                ____  13.  Career planning and vision for future
         ____    5.  Boyfriend/girlfriend/spouse relationships  ____  14.  Work situation, if you have a job on or off campus
         ____   6.  Managing time and schedule               ____  15.  Current living situation (home with family,
         ____   7.  Managing money                                   apartment with a friend, etc.)
         ____   8.  Performance on assignments               Total your points here: ________

         The lowest possible score is 15, and the highest possible is 150. The higher your score, the more stress you perceive
         you are currently experiencing. Things to think about:
           ■   Ponder what your total score says about your life at the moment. A score over 100 may indicate that reducing
            stress should be a top priority for you right now. A score under 50 may indicate that you are currently experienc-
            ing tolerable, and even productive, levels of stress.
           ■   Take a look at how you rated each item, and consider putting particular energy into the areas that you rated the
            highest. There are two ways to determine where your energy would serve you best: One, focus on any area that you
            rated a 7 or higher. Two, focus on the five areas that you rated highest, no matter what number you gave them.

         School and community resources can help you manage whatever level of stress you are experiencing. On a separate
         sheet of paper or digital file, write down names, locations, hours, phone numbers, URLs, and any other pertinent infor-
         mation for the following resources:

           ■  Free counseling offered to students
           ■  Exercise facility
           ■  Sexual assault center

           ■  Other resource
         Source: Adapted in part from Kohn, P.M., K. Lafreniere, and M. Gurevich, “The Inventory of College Students Recent Life Experiences: A Decontaminated
         Hassles Scale for a Special Population.” Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 13(6), 1990, pp. 619–630.







                                      Eating disorders are very difficult to cope with on your own. If you suffer from an
                                   eating disorder, risk asking for help from a counselor who can offer the reward of care
                                   and understanding.
                                      The stresses of college lead some students to experiment with alcohol, tobacco, and
                                   other potentially addictive substances. Although these substances may alleviate stress
                                   temporarily, they have potentially serious consequences.

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