Feeling overwhelmed due to end of semester stress? You are not alone. Detroit Mercy prioritizes student well-being, offering one-on one-help to all students.
The Detroit Mercy Wellness Center offers no-cost counseling to students. Staffed by a clinical psychologist, clinical social workers and mental health counselors, the Wellness Center focuses on issues ranging from stress to depression to substance use.
These types of services can be useful during the high stress points that come during the end of the semester.
“End-of-semester stress is something many students at the University of Detroit Mercy experience, as they manage the demands of finals, projects and other responsibilities,” said Miao Qian, as assistant professor in UDM’s psychology department “This period can bring about increased anxiety and can affect students’ mental and physical well-being.”
Fellow Detroit Mercy students ensure you that you are not alone.
“As a nursing student at the end of junior year, the stress is all over the place, with exams, clinicals, and assignments all converging into one overwhelming final stretch,” junior Johnea Johnson said. “The pressure to perform well is constant, and there’s a nagging fear that I won’t be able to balance it all. It feels like a never-ending cycle of studying, caring for patients, and trying to maintain some sort of a social life.”
Students feel a connection to each other as they navigate the final few weeks of the semester.
“As a sophomore and having done this before my biggest advice to the students is you are not alone, because everyone around you is going through the same thing, since we are all getting ready for exams,” UDM student Lena Amanoel said. “It helps to isolate yourself from distractions while studying.”
Kristen Abraham, chair of Detroit Mercy’s psychology department, shares some root causes behind academic stress.
“Procrastinating, putting off schoolwork, or avoiding it all together can make people feel better in the short term, but it leads to greater feelings of anxiety and overwhelm in the longer term,” Abraham said.
Whether you want to reach out for help or cope with it on your own, Abraham and Qian have helpful solutions that are worth looking into.
“At Detroit Mercy, we offer a variety of resources to support students during this stressful time,” Qian said. “The Student Success Center provides tutoring and academic support, while the Wellness Center offers counseling services where students can discuss their challenges with a professional. Additionally, our university hosts wellness workshops focused on stress management techniques like mindfulness, relaxation exercises, and time management strategies. We also encourage students to participate in activities at the Fitness Center, which can be a great way to relieve stress.”
Students can also alleviate some of the stress by enacting strategies on their own.
“I encourage students to look ahead at their schedules and plan blocks of time where they can complete assignments and study,” Abraham said. “Setting up blocks of focused time (no phones!) with frequent, brief breaks is usually most effective. Planning ahead and working on things little-by-little can help reduce the overwhelming feeling students often experience at the end of the term because they make progress on their assignments and studying in a consistent way. After you accomplish a bit of work, be sure to reward yourself in some way – text a friend, watch a brief video on your phone or have a snack.”
Another solution Abraham shares is an app called “Mindfulness Coach.”
“I also recommend using mindfulness practice. This app can be downloaded for free,” Abraham said. “It was developed for military veterans, but it can be used by anyone to reduce stress and anxiety. There are many different features to the app. It is most helpful to people if they familiarize themselves with it before they feel a lot of stress. If they practice with it before their stress is too high, then they will feel more comfortable turning to it in times of high stress.”
