Academic 'dead day' is 'dog day' on campus April 28
Kim Chaudoin | 615.966.6494 |
As the spring semester winds down and final exams are approaching, student stress levels can increase significantly.
Lipscomb University’s Counseling Center is bringing some special guests to campus this Thursday, April 28, to help alleviate some of that stress.
The day before final exams begin is traditionally known as “dead day” when students have a break from classes and a free day to study before exams begin the next day. Andrea Mills, assistant director of Lipscomb’s Counseling Center, says that is a great day to help give students a different kind of stress reliever by bringing some furry friends to campus.
Thursday a group of therapy dogs will be in Bison Square offering students an opportunity to relieve some of the pre-exam stress.
“We wanted to give our students the opportunity to spend a little time with these therapy dogs on a day when they are likely feeling stressed and maybe a little overwhelmed with studying for exams,” says Mills, who is also the program director for the university’s Campus Suicide Prevention Grant. “In our surveys and interactions with students, they tell us that they miss their pets and that they would like to see more pets on campus. So, we thought this would be a good way to give students a way to relieve stress in a meaningful and fun way!”
According to AnimalSmart.org, studies show that playing with or petting an animal can increase levels of the stress-reducing hormone oxytocin and decrease production of the stress hormone cortisol. Interaction with pets can reduce tension and improve mood.
The therapy dogs will be on campus from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Students are encouraged to come out to Bison Square any time during the day to interact with the dogs. In the event of rain, the dogs will be in the Student Activities Center.
According to Lipscomb’s counseling center, stress can be a most debilitating problem when individuals become so frazzled that they don't function well and work is affected.
“The stress which motivates us to go to class and to do our work is a good thing, but too much stress is counter productive and leaves us feeling overwhelmed and drained,” says Mills.
Mills says the end of an academic year is often a time of heightened stress for students and faculty. But stress relief isn’t just about taking a break from studying, she says.
“There is much more to relieving stress than just taking a break from whatever it is that is causing the stress and tension,” she says. “It’s about filling that time with something edifying, such as interacting with pets.”
According to the counseling center, the four types of stress symptoms that most often appear:
- Physical symptoms include fatigue, headache, insomnia, muscle aches and stiffness, heart palpitations, chest pains, cramps, nausea, trembling, sweating, frequent colds, etc.
- Mental symptoms include decrease in memory and concentration, indecisiveness, mind racing or going blank, confusion and loss of humor.
- Emotional symptoms include anxiety, nervousness, depression, anger, frustration, worry, fear, irritability, impatience, short temper, etc.
- Behavioral symptoms include pacing, fidgeting, nervous habits like nail-biting, increased eating, smoking, drinking, crying, yelling, swearing, and blaming.
They recommend the following strategies to relieve stress:
- Decrease or discontinue caffeine.
- Exercise regularly.
- Prayer, relaxation and meditation.
- Get seven to eight hours sleep per night.
- Have regular rest breaks and leisure time.
- Develop realistic expectations.
- Reframe situations positively.
- Check your belief system.
- Find and use a support system and talk it out.
- Look for humor in every situation.
For help learning to relax, re-frame or to talk things out, call the University Counseling Center at 615.966.1781 or complete the online appointment request form.