In his position at the Texas State University Counseling Center, psychologist Richard A. Martinez hears firsthand that for some students, the end of the semester and arrival of the holidays can be more stressful than fun.
Various factors influence students’ mental health at this time of year. Some may be stressed about final exams. Some may be anxious about going home to a difficult family environment. Some may be going home to a family that’s grieving over a death.
“I think it’s important to consider that everyone has different experiences and associations with the holidays,” says Dr. Martinez, the center’s assistant director and senior psychologist. “We work with a lot of students who have experienced grief and loss in their life, and the holidays can be a very challenging time for them in particular.”
For other students, going home means giving up the autonomy of college life and reentering an environment where they don’t feel like they can be themselves.
“We work with students who don’t necessarily have the most safe or supportive family environment,” Martinez says. “Going back into a space that’s stressful or even chaotic can be triggering for students.”
For students who are worried about the holidays, Martinez recommends making a game plan to minimize stress over the break. Here are his six tips:
Set ground rules with family and friends. If students are worried about antagonistic conversations, they can ask family members to avoid certain topics, such as politics. “You can try to set boundaries around some of those topics that you may not feel comfortable or safe talking about, or conversations that get disrespectful.”
Be mindful of how long you plan to stay home. Martinez says students should think about the length of their trip home. “Am I going back for the full month or am I going to go back for two weeks, and how can that look different?”
Identify places where you can have your own space. This could be inside or outside of the house. “Is there a coffee shop that’s going to be open, or a diner or bookstore? Sometimes we just need to step out of that situation for a little bit to have our space.”
Take your hobbies with you to relax. Martinez suggests taking along activities that you enjoy or books to read. “It can feel hard if you’re leaving everything you like to do back in San Marcos, but you can take some of that with you back home.”
Lean into your social support system. Students can stay engaged with their friends even though they’re spread apart. “You can still maintain connections with a roommate or best friends that you’ve met here by doing a weekly check-in on the phone, or FaceTiming every once in a while, or gaming together.”
If dealing with loss and grief, do what feels right. People who are grieving the loss of a family member should honor their feelings and not force themselves to celebrate. “Maybe this isn’t the year where you feel like you can really enjoy the holidays. It’s OK to not force yourself to go through those motions.”
Counseling Center Resources
To visit with a counselor, students can set up an appointment with the Counseling Center or TimelyCare, a virtual mental-health service provider for students at no additional cost. Over the holidays, students access help, including telephone support from a counselor, through TALKNOW in the TimelyCare app, or by calling the Counseling Center at 512.245.2208 and selecting option 2.
“If it gets to the point where the stress or anxiety is really getting in the way of your functioning or your ability to thrive through that time, reach out for support,” Martinez says.