Learn to ask for help

What can a psychologist do for you? Learn to ask for help

When you get close to graduation, the world is at your feet. It’s a great time – but for many students, it’s also terrifying. Questions like ‘What am I going to do?’ and ‘Is there enough work out there?’ can continually race through your head. ‘Relax. You’re not the only one struggling with this’, stated student psychologist Michêlle Lacroix.

In her eighteen years at Zuyd, she’s seen it time and time again: students who hit a rough patch in the final phase of their studies. She says: ‘It’s often a combination of factors. Students are searching for meaning at exactly the moment the pressure hits them because they’ve really got to finish their studies in four years. It’s a very critical phase of life, in which you’re developing part of your identity. This all mounts up and results in a lot of mental stress.’

Let yourself feel what you’re feeling!

Michêlle says it’s important to reach out for help as soon as you start struggling with fear and doubt. She would stress an important message, which is: ‘Stay true to yourself. Let yourself feel what you’re feeling. Give yourself the time and space you need to grow through it. It’s okay to have doubts and to not know all the answers. Remember that an educational institute is actually meant to be the place where you practice the tools you’ll need in the real world.’

Strengthen your own sense of self

‘Research has shown that a significant portion of cases of depression can be traced to experiences before the age of 25. ‘That shows just how crucial this period is. After parents, teachers are, from a pedagogical standpoint, the most important people in the student’s life. The importance of good support cannot be overstated. It’s also good to seek contact, including with other students. After all, we are stronger together than alone. This is how you can strengthen your own sense of self.’

Remember that at Zuyd, we don’t stop at the end of your programme. Did you know you can still come to us for help up to a year after you graduate?

Michêlle’s three important tips:

• Doubts? Fears? Depressive thoughts? Talk about them. • Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. • Reach out to other students, teachers, or family and friends. After all, we are stronger together than alone. This helps strengthen your own sense of self.

Want to make an appointment?

Zuyd has four student psychologists, who are based in Maastricht, Sittard, and Heerlen. You are free to choose any one of them to speak to. To make an appointment, send an e-mail to studentenpsychologen@zuyd.nl or call the Student Affairs service on +31 (0)45 400 62 53. Michêlle Lacroix, Heerlen

Marcel Bellefroid, Heerlen

Dianne Verluyten, Maastricht

Jolanda Navis, Sittard

‘I just couldn’t be bothered anymore’

Alexandra is 22, and in her fourth year at the School of Translation (Vertaalacademie). We asked her: ‘Have you got the graduation blues?’ She nods gravely. ‘Yeah, you could say that.’ Alexandra tells us how it came to be, what she did about it, and what the pitfalls were along the way.

(For privacy reasons, ‘Alexandra’ is not the student's real name. The interviewee's real name is known to the editorial staff.)

‘I had been dealing with some problems for a while. Then my final project came along, I had assignments to submit, plus I had to work to pay for my degree. On top of all that, I even had a conflict with my graduation supervisor. That all turned out to be a miscommunication and it's fine now, but it was a lot to deal with all at once. I just didn't want to study anymore. “Anything but studying,” I thought. I started doing all sorts of other stuff, fun stuff. And I threw myself into my job, because then I had an excuse: I have no time for school, because I have to work. But it was all just escapism and avoidance.’ ‘What problems was I dealing with exactly? They were health issues. I have a chronic illness, so I'm always tired, in pain, and have mood swings. I went to see the student counsellor, and we came to some agreements. There's an attendance requirement, for example, but if I'm not feeling up to it, then I don't need to come to class. The counsellor also sent me to see Dianne Verluyten, the student psychologist.’

‘At first you think: I just won't mention it to anyone. You feel ashamed, and you don't want anyone to think you're weak. But it's only when you start talking about it that people really understand you and why you're not in class, for example. My sessions with Dianne really helped. Getting an objective outsider's opinion is very reassuring. It offers support, plus you get tips and advice. That's my message to anybody going through issues in their final year: talk about it. Whatever you do, get talking – it's important.’