Research on college campuses demonstrates that stress is the number one impediment for academic performance and overall well-being. Stress manifests itself in many ways. In the body, stress can be experienced as shallow/rapid breathing, increased heart rate, tightening of muscles, headaches and upset stomach. In the mind, stress can be experienced as racing thoughts, worrying, irritability, sadness, and even anger. Stress also impacts our performance, relationships, sleep and concentration. JCU’s Counseling Center offers a variety of resources and information to help you more effectively manage your stress and improve your relaxation skills.
At the Counseling Center we offer:
- Individual counseling to learn and practice various relaxation techniques including deep breathing, mindfulness meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery
- Consultation sessions to learn how to use our portable biofeedback equipment – the Stress Erasers
- Bibliotherapy about various relaxation and stress management techniques
The Counseling Center has many helpful relaxation and stress management resources available online. Check out smartphone apps, iTunes, YouTube and other resources for audio/video clips on deep breathing, mindfulness meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery and other relaxation techniques. For some of these resources, click on the “Videos & Resources” tab to the left.
Also, the Student Health & Wellness Center at JCU offers massage therapy