3 Ways to Take Care of Your Mental Health in College

By Isabella Trelles on March 20, 2019
The importance of mental health while in college cannot be stressed enough. As students, we tend to put our mental health aside to focus on things that we think that matter more like needing to get an A on that exam or needing to get in your morning workout. Although these goals are very important, it is more important to take a step back and make sure that you’re doing okay. Here are three ways that have helped me to take care of my mental health in the past.

Apps for Mental health

Mental health awareness has been growing for years now and because of this, so many easily accessible treatment methods are now available. For instance, there are many different apps that can treat anxiety and depression. Below I’ve listed some of my personal favorites.

  • Calm. This is one of the top apps that can help reduce anxiety, treat depression, and can help you lead a more mindful life. When you open this app, you can choose the video you would like to watch while listening to guided breathing exercises. It’s incredibly relaxing and can help you unwind from almost any stressful situation.
  • Moodpath. This app is amazing because it sends you notifications every day that ask you exactly how you are feeling to assess if you show symptoms of depression and anxiety. After receiving this information, the app will then send you videos that will treat the disorder you may be experiencing.
  • Pacifica. Lastly, if you’re specifically feeling symptoms like stress and anxiety (like most college students do), this is the app for you. Pacifica is specifically made for managing stress and anxiety by tracking your feelings.

Photo by Tracy Le Blanc from Pexels

Self-Care

There are many different at home methods you can do to make sure that you’re not stressing out about school too much. So, taking the time to do small self-care acts like using a face mask or practicing meditation can help you stay sane in college.

  • Buy an essential oil diffuser. Essential oil diffusers are nothing short of amazing. These machines work by releasing oils into the air to add scent and moisture to the room. I recommend buying lavender, eucalyptus, and bergamot essential oils. These oils reduce stress, help you fall asleep faster, and just create the most relaxing environment.
  • Taking a bubble-bath. I know this sounds silly but baths are highly recommended to de-stress! The combination of letting your body soak in hot water and using lavender Epsom salt or eucalyptus scented bath gel can help you unwind after a long day of studying.
  • Reading a book or watching your favorite TV show. School can be extremely exhausting so don’t feel like you don’t have the time to do some of the things you love! Getting in the routine of distracting your brain by doing an activity you love like watching a TV show, will give your mind a break and can help you be in a better mood.
  • Yoga. This is probably one of the most widely known activities to help with stress but it’s for a reason. Florida State University offers a free restorative yoga class that focuses on guided breathing and relaxation, making it a great break from the stress of school. Check to see if your school offers yoga classes on-campus!

 Seeing a Therapist

This subject freaks people out a lot. Most people think that therapy is meant for people who have deep-rooted issues but what people don’t know is that therapy is just great for everyone! Therapy is just like how you need to visit the dentist regularly or visit the doctor regularly, except instead of it being about your teeth or body, it’s about your mind. It’s much more common than you would think, this is why most college campuses offer free on-campus counseling (schools understand that students need help!). Therapists can give you one-on-one advice on how to make sure that you have a happy, healthy mind and it also feels great to know that you’re getting advice from someone who’s trained to know what’s the most effective way to help you!

Last Thoughts

Although there are many methods to ensure that you have a healthy mind, don’t forget about the simplest one—talking to your family and friends for moral support! These are the people who know you best, so turning to them for advice could be your best method. It’s also never a good idea to keep your emotions bottled up, don’t be afraid to get things off your chest! I hope that these methods for taking care of your mental health will give you some guidance.

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