“C” Your Way Through Stress

Calm. Make a stress kit of feel-goodies and keep it in a place you spend a lot of time. Take a moment to reconnect with your joy, or tune in to one of RecWell’s weekly guided meditations on Mondays at 1 p.m. or Tuesdays at noon. Join RecWell on RamsConnect for info!

“When feeling stressed, ask yourself: Will this matter in 5 years? In 10 years? If the answer is no, then try not to stress out too much about it today.”

— Quinnie, 3rd year Dental Student

“Don’t feel bad or weak for asking for help, sometimes the smallest ask can be the biggest help,”

—Alaina, 3rd year PhD student

• Academic pressures

• Finances or debt

• Anxiety

• Work-life balance

• Family issues

When our capacity to cope is already stretched by expected stressors, and then we are faced with an unexpected stressor, it can push us to our limits and impact our academics, work and relationships. When our coping is maxxed out (like a credit card), relatively minor things like a missed alarm or being late for a meeting can feel like too much.

The best time to practice managing stress is when our stress levels are already low(er) and we can easily remind ourselves of what author Glennon Doyle tells us: “We can do hard things!” We can cultivate our cool and our capacity for conquering stress by remembering the C’s:

Care. We’re not talking a oncein-awhile bath-bomb — do the things that keep your batteries charged on the regular. Gentle movement, nourishing food, restful sleep, 5 minutes here and there to simply breathe. Self care means listening to and honoring what your body needs. Need food? The Little Ram Pantries can help. Learn more at rampages.us/littlerampantries, or visit go.vcu.edu/rampantry to access the regular Ram Pantry.

Reach for Help

Sometimes, it feels like we’ve tried everything to cope with challenges and things don’t seem to get better. If you or a friend are…

• Crying or getting angry more often than not

• Losing interest in work/school/ socializing

• Feeling overly self-critical or experiencing negative thoughts that won’t go away

Compassion. Practicing self-compassion by forgiving ourselves for the times we aren’t our best can help us move forward with intention.

Connection. You’re not alone in what you’re going through. Talking to a trusted peer, friend or mentor can help you alleviate anxiety and begin to find a way forward. Visit dos.vcu.edu to connect to VCU services and resources, like the student emergency fund to help with financial emergencies.

Control. We can spend a lot of time worrying about the why and miss out on how we can solve a problem or navigate a stressful situation. When things pile on, start by asking, “Right here, right now, what can I control?”

• Feeling stuck, hopeless or not able to see a way through it

It might be time to ask for some extra help. Visit counseling.vcu.edu to find resources, or call (804) 828-6200 for 24/7 crisis support.