Counseling Resources
Please call 911 or 988 and see our crisis resource page if you are feeling unsafe, contemplating self harm or suicide!
Dealing with Stress
In dealing with stress it is imperative to remember that self-care is crucial for managing symptoms and our emotions during this time. To support our students, the Office of Personal Counseling & Wellness will be offering dedicated office hours (see below) for you to drop by and chat. We encourage you to take advantage of this resource!
Here are some tips to help you manage stress:
Unplug!!
If following the news or scrolling through social media is causing you stress, limiting
your media consumption will be very helpful. Establish limited times during the day
when you consume the news, through either social media or a news outlet. Instead, take time to schedule a midday walk, talk to your peers, or participate in
a phone-free workout.
Practice non-judgment.
Try not to judge your emotions or to judge other's emotions. We all experience stress
in different ways. Remember that we are all different and have different perspectives.
Listen and try to be aware of your own emotions as often we can be unaware of how
tense we are. It's very difficult to change stress if you are not aware of it happening.
Practice Mindfulness.
Engage your senses to ground yourself in the here and now. Identifying ways to ground
yourself and reduce anxieties can help build resilience in the face of larger stressors,
such as highly stimulating events. When you find yourself worrying over events you
can’t control or predict, use mindfulness to bring your awareness back to the present.
Maintain your routines around exercise, healthy eating, self-care, and studying.
Maintaining a routine can help you remain in balance in the presence of stress. Try to seperate that which you can affect from that which you can't.
Try these activities: Identify 5 things you see, 4 things you hear, 3 tactile things you can feel, 2 things you can taste, and 1 thing you can smell to recenter your focus. Alternatively, you could try going for a walk, finding a soothing space to relax, take a few minutes to write about how your feelings, and then direct your attention to something neutral, such as focusing on your breath.
Stay connected (with others).
We all tend to isolate ourselves in overwhelming situations, but engaging with others and maintaining connections is so important to mental health. Engage with supportive friends and allies. Talk about things that directly impact your life such as family, friends, hobbies, your favorite food, your favorite music, exercise, etc…
Give Yourself Compassion and practice positive psychology.
Be kind to yourself during stressful periods. Self-compassion — treating yourself with kindness and patience — can be 3-part process:
- Be kind to yourself rather than criticizing. If you catch yourself judging yourself, also try to think about one positive or neutral thing.
- Recognize that you’re not alone and others struggle with similar challenges. Talk to a friend or family member for support. You may learn they’re going through the same thing.
- Ask yourself what you need to do to feel better. And then make a plan to do it.
Lastly, we cannot overstate the importance of consistent self-care. The on-going practice
of self-care is essential to your well-being, your academic performance, and surviving
the stressers going on in your life. Taking small steps regularly can make a big difference.
Eat, sleep, play. Don’t stop doing what refuels you, relaxes you, or makes you smile. If you have a hobby, make sure you make time to for it!
Know when to seek help.
If students have exhausted their resources or see that mental health concerns are impacting their day-to-day lives, that should be an indicator that they need to seek professional care. CCRI Personal Counseling & Wellness Office continues to offer confidential meetings during regular business hours:
Warwick, Rm. 8208 - Phone: 401.825.2021
Lincoln, Rm. 1311- Phone: 401.333.7053
Providence, Rm 2227
Newport, Rm as needed
TELUS health counseling is always available, is free, and is a 24/7 resource.