Welcome
(back!) to UNH!! The UNH Counseling Center (UNHCC) hopes that you had a
relaxing and interesting summer. As the Fall semester begins, nature is
changing. The leaves are just about to make their way to the ground, the sun is
setting earlier, and baseball is making room for football season. We at UNHCC
have been undergoing the transition to the academic year by welcoming new doctoral interns and postdoctoral fellows to our staff as well as implementing technological changes.
Fall is
also a time of transition for many students. Whether you are returning to UNH
after a summer or semester away or you are on the Durham campus for the first
time as a student, you are probably experiencing some feelings associated with
change: excitement, nervousness,
wonder, happiness, and/or confusion. You also may be asking yourself any or all
of the following questions:
“How
will I adjust to everything that is new or different: courses, roommates,
professors, jobs, volunteer opportunities, new student organizations, interactions with my friends?”
“How
will I meet new people?”
“Will I
be able to be on time for classes with my commute?”
“Will I
have people to eat dinner with?“
How will I deal with missing people and pets
from home?”,
“Will I
get along well (or at all?) with my roommate?”
For students who are new to UNH and/or new to
college, these changes can feel particularly powerful. Sometimes
change can be overwhelming and lead to stress and anxiety.
Especially during
these times, it is important to think of what feels familiar. For example, you
have probably spent most of your life as a student and so you have already
experienced taking classes and submitting assignments. You have met new people
before, and so, you have familiarity with this experience as well. You have
also probably already made some independent decisions, even if they have felt
smaller than the choices you are making now. Most of all, you are still you.
Even though your environment may have recently changed, your internal
values, which kind of qualities you like in others, and your overall sense of
what feels “good” or “right” probably has not changed too much. Try thinking of
other aspects of your life that have not changed, or at least have not changed so much.
Especially
during times of change, it is important to good care of yourself physically and
emotionally. Aim to receive enough sleep (usually 7-9 hours nightly); exercise
moderately, and practice healthy eating habits. If you have questions about
your physical health and wellness, visit the UNH Health Services website at http://www.unh.edu/health-services for more information and to make
an appointment. Generally, moderation is a healthy route!
If you
are feeling emotionally overwhelmed, try to accept your anxiety and clear your
mind by focusing on nothing but your breathing for several minutes. Then for
several minutes, try silently focusing on a person, place, or object that you
associate with calmness and peace. If these mindfulness exercises feel
difficult, that is okay – you are not alone, they are hard for most people at
first but can become easier with time. For more information on relaxation
exercises, check out the Health Services website and the UNHCC website at www.unhcc.unh.edu.
If you
would like to speak with a counselor about healthy ways to cope with stress and
change, please contact UNHCC at 603-862-2090 or by visiting us at Smith Hall
(corner of Garrison and Main Streets, Room 306) during our open hours
Monday-Friday 8-5PM. We are available by phone 24/7 in the event of an emergency by calling the main number, 603-862-2090.
In health,
UNHCC
UNHCC
