The Journal

There are five weeks until finals and the holidays are looming around the corner. Both students and faculty are feeling the pressure of stress. With so many things to do, and a time limit in which to do it, Webster University needs to take a breather.

"You should just take a f ew minutes to sit back, relax and breathe deeply," said Jerry Olive, a counselor extern at the Counseling and Life Development Office at WU.

Breathing, especially deep breathing, can be very relaxing and stress-relieving. It brings oxygen to the bloodstream, causing the brain to wake up, and helps tight muscles relax. This is a quick method that can be used anywhere, anytime and it works quickly.

Rev. Dr. Laurel Hayes heads Pause for (No) Thought every Wednesday in Emerson Library. It lasts for a half hour and allows students a reprieve through meditation, deep breathing exercises and some peace and quiet.

"Depending on who attends dictates what exactly we do and for how long," Hayes said. "We sometimes do stretches, art meditation as well as journal writing meditation. There have been times when all we did was just enjoy the silence and focused on our breathing and all of the positive things in our lives."

Journal writing is a free way of relieving stress. Writing down what a person is feeling, making lists and organizing one's thoughts all contribute to getting everything out in the open and in black and white, so that it is no longer inside.

For those who tend to close themselves off from the world, journal writing might be a resource to try.

"Even if it's only temporary, becoming organized can help manage and prevent stress before it becomes unmanageable," Olive said.

Exercising and deep muscle stretches allow a person to vent some of the pent up energy and aggression caused by stress.

The walk to and from classes, walking around campus and even parking just a little bit farther than normal can give a person time to collect their thoughts. Regaining composure and exercising is Hayes' advice to students who don't think they have the time.

"Exercise is a great reliever of stress and depression because it releases endorphins and makes you feel good about yourself," Olive said.

Massages are relaxing and relieve stress, but not everyone can afford to go to the spa or get a friend to give them one. There are types of self-massage that are a quick fix. The scalp, around the eyes and sinuses and upper shoulder massages are the most common.

"Taking time for relaxation and getting away from the everyday pressures is important," Hayes said.

A hot bath, singing with the radio, prayer, venting with friends, reading books for enjoyment and art work from any media are all common ways for dealing with stress.

"Many people tell me that the part of the day they look forward to is when they can take a long hot bath," Hayes said. "You can add bubbles, aromatherapy candles and music to help you relax."

The symptoms of stress vary from person to person, but the most common ones are panic attacks, being easily irritated, avoiding people, anger issues, headaches, stomach issues and pains, sleep issues, decreased sex drive and anxiety.

"If the self help isn't working then you need to seek a counselor," Olive said. "Mental and physical issues can be caused by stress. It is better to get treated before something serious happens."

Counseling and Life Development hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. They are located at 540 Garden Ave. by the bookstore. Students and faculty can walk in, call (314) 968-7030 or email counselingld@webster.edu to make an appointment.

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