— Pre Med and Stressed

Dear PMS,

Thanks for your note, and your vent was heard. I am sure you did not intentionally acronym yourself as PMS. That would just be too easy!

I guess my first question to you would be: “What in the hell are you doing still working on a paper at 2 a.m. on a Saturday night?” Dude, have you not heard about the concept of balance? Yes, I understand things have to get done. But is this really how you want to spend the end of your career here at MSU? Oops, sorry, I forgot you were stressed.

OK, so you really have touched on a couple of issues in your e-mail. I am not really sure where to start, or for that matter, whether you really want me to comment. Maybe all you really needed to do was to “e-vent” a bit. I am fine with that. But since this is a write-in column and I have had similar questions, let me just make some general comments about stress and focus.

Ah, springtime in East Lansing. It is a time when if you listen very carefully, you can not only hear robins singing, but also the collective sighs of stress coming from your fellow Spartans. It is so loud at times it’s palpable. Even though some faculty choose resolutely not to recognize or acknowledge that it could be this way for students, it is real. So, let’s talk about a few things you can do to manage the stress.

One of the first things you might want to do is to normalize the experience. Most students will choose to do this to themselves at some point in their career. The environment you have chosen to come into is not always conducive to living life without stress and, frankly, it is not supposed to be stress free.

The next thing to do is to recognize it for what it is and where it comes from. Stress is the result of the way we perceive and act on how our lives look at this moment. It might appear to you as if this is being done to you by others, but how we perceive it and recognize it is entirely an internal process. We can perceive and act in a way that makes the present moment “negative,” or we can choose to do the opposite. It is important to recognize that the stress itself might be what is affecting your focus. Your “load” and the pressure you have put on yourself to do well might be what has muddled your focus.

Stress also doesn’t have to be stigmatizing. It can be an ally, but most people tend to look at it like it is destructive and life-stopping. I know you have a lot to do, but the question is how best to get done what is absolutely needed without choosing to perceive the stress you have put on yourself as negative or debilitating.

Finally, you need to prioritize. You need to allow yourself to enjoy life even when feeling stressed. Schedule your day in blocks so as to break up the work and studying. This way it seems you have accomplished things and it doesn’t feel so overwhelming. Build in a few breaks to laugh, move around, talk to a friend, run in circles, shop, listen to music … whatever works for you. Try not to let your work interfere with your eating, exercise or sleeping patterns. Your daily needs should remain a priority. Put everything else on a to-do list and be specific and realistic.

If you are able to normalize, recognize, destigmatize and prioritize, you just might be able to get back your focus. If not, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Talk to a friend or your parents, if you just need to talk about what you are feeling. If you are feeling really overwhelmed, there are people who are willing to listen. Contact the MSU Counseling Center at (517) 355-8270.

I wish you happiness, wellness and peace! Remember all that matters is the present moment and in that moment you can choose to be at peace.

Peace, love dove!

— Dr. D.

Dennis Martell, Ph.D., is a coordinator of Olin Health Center education. E-mail him your questions at dennis.martell@ht.msu.edu.