The Throes of the
Non-traditional Student
Many college students are not tn their early
twenties More and more, college student popula
tions include a large percentage of older stu
dents who were engaged In activities that led
them to postponing their college education
These students experience stressors similar to
those experienced by younger college students
such as grades, course overload, and breakups
But in addition they experience some stressors
that are also unique i e mixing careers, family
life and school concurrently Even though each of
these stressors may be manageable alone, when
they coexist there may be an overload which may
result in illness or disease
Not only are many non traditional students
working, but many have family responsibililies as
well Questions may arise about what to do with
after work time Should they work on their term
paper, play with their kids or spend time with
their spouses? Will the in laws understand it they
don't visit because they're doing school work,
etc
So what takes oft the pressure7 A very under
standing spouse helps A spouse who can spend
a few extra minutes with the kids, take on more
than his/her share of the household chores, can
provide a shoulder lo loan on and an ear to listen
can go a long way in intervening between stress
and illness tor the older college student
It helps to remember there will be a payoff
down the road If the whole family believes it is
worthwhile and is willing to put off immediate
pleasures to achieve long range goals the sacri
ftce is easier If the older student has to continu
ally justify the expense of college, or if the fami
ly's sacrifice is periodically brought up, the
stress associated with guilt will be greater
Since older students may have all sorts of
doubts about their ability to be successful in
their studies many counseling programs and sup
port groups are available for these students The
Center tor Academic Learning Services help with
study skills including effective note taking, active
reading skills, test taking, time management and
memory improvement all ot which are imperative
for success in school The Counseling Center of
fers a multi-purpose group for older than average
students as well as several other support groups
The Women s Center in the EMU has a support
group foi Women In Transition
Hememuei you can make college life less
stresslul it you attend lo the slressors rather
than ignoring them
by Robbie Ross
Food, Emotions, and
Compulsive Eating
Do you often hide out in your room binging on
large amounts of food, barely tasting it, and going
way past a reasonable level of fullness? This is the
behavior of a compulsive eater. Food abuse can be
likened to drug or alcohol abuse in that it is a way to
escape A compulsive eater feels out of control and
food may occupy hours of thought Compulsive eat
ing is finally getting some attention as a serious eat
ing disorder since the effects are harmful mentally
and physically, and are damaging to one's self-es
teem.
Food abuse really has nothing to do with hunger.
For many, food is tied up with many emotions and is
used for comfort. Remember when mom gave us a
cookie when we were hurt or sad? It's natural for one
to bring this into adulthood and to care for ourselves
and assuage our pain This can be linked to many
emotions such as sadness, depression, loneliness,
stress, and even happiness Compulsive eating be-u
comes a way to deal with emotions. S
Food abuse really has Sl,
nothing to do with hunger. fi.
It is essential to realize that dieting and self-pun
ishment are not going to help because they avoid the
psychological issue Food abuse is a continuous cy
cle where one binges one day and feels extreme guilt
the next.
It is possible to overcome this compulsive behav
ior. It's important to learn what emotions trigger a
binge Keeping a food diary is a good way to record
it. Next, the person needs to allow themselves to feel
and express the emotions they are suppressing with
food and learn to deal with them in a positive way.
Separating food and emotions is the key. A compul
sive eater needs to relearn regular eating patterns
and learn to trust themselves and their bodies' wants
and needs.
Compulsive eating is an eating disor der that de
serves to be dealt with and recognized Don’t be
afraid to seek help and to stop punishing yourself.
by Perrin Elmore
Ah, Q hOOk, it can take you away to your favorite fanta
sy, make you laugh, cry, dream, and much more. The best part is
a book never pushes you to hurry. In fact you can re-live those
v competing moments over and over again
kj Talking to Yourself by Pamela Butler
% This is a great book for reprogramming those negative mes
sages you've been telling yourself. You learn how to recognize
your negative self-talk and change it to more positive messages.
Wellness Workbook by Ryan and Travis
This book provides the ‘how tos" to better wellness. It’s very
well written, creative and enjoyable reading.
Healing the Child Within by Charles L Whitfield
A great book for the discovery and recovery for adult children of
dysfunctional families. It refers to that part of each of us which
is ultimately alive, energetic, creative and fulfilled; it is our real
self.
Minding the Body Mending the Mind by Joan Borysenko
I Shows you how to take control of your own physical and emo
\ tional well-being. It teaches you how to elicit the mind's power
\ ful relaxation response to boost your immune system, overcome
r chronic pain and alleviate the symptoms of stress related ill
j nesses.
Confidence by Alan Loy McGinnis
Discover how you can build inner strength, develop your unique
ness, keep flaws in perspective, make friends with your body,
help others become more confident and more!
m
_JT\
rnrn
“LETTING YOURSELF GRIEVE SEEMS TO
MAKE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BREAK
ING DOWN OR BREAKING THROUGH.”
NICKI ROKICH
Lost
Lost in confusion
Mo way out
Trapped in a prison...
The mind
Dying for freedom
Mot in sight
Shedding a tear...
Left behind
Pain searing through me
Unrecognized
So watchful, yet.
So blind
Will I survive this?
Still unknown
Hoping peace, someday,
I II find.
******
Have you ever felt lost and alone, or down and unable to lift your spirits like the author of this poem?
Chances are you have. The feeling that both inspired and is expressed in the poem is called depres
sion. Most, if not all, of us will feel depressed at some point in our lives. Depression is a very common
emotion and is triggered by a number of things. Perhaps you're new to the area and are having a hard
time making friends. Or maybe you just had a relationship end with someone you really cared about
Or it could be that school or even life in general just isn't going the way you'd like it to. Whatever the
case may be, the result is often the same: feelings of un-shakeable sadness or simply the inability to
feel good.
Ranging in intensity from mild to severe, and a time period from hours to days or even months, de
pression is something that should be taken seriously and dealt with. A person should talk to someone
about how they are feeling and try to uncover the reason(s) for feeling that way. It may be that there is
no apparent reason, but that is no excuse to ignore the depression.
If you notice that a friend is depressed, lend an ear and let them know that you are there for them.
Mo matter what the severity of the emotion nor what the cause, it is always good to know that someone
cares. But keep in mind that signs of depression aren't always easily noticed. Some people are excel
lent at putting on masks to hide their depression when around others. The following are some less-ap
parent characteristics of depression as described by the Mational Alliance for the Mentally III (AMI):
* Poor appetite and weight loss, or the opposite, increased appetite and weight gain
* Sleep disturbance: sleeping too little, or sleeping too much in an irregular pattern.
* Loss of energy: excessive fatigue or tiredness.
* Change in activity level, either increased or decreased.
* Loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities.
* Decreased sexual drive.
* Diminished ability to think or concentrate.
* Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt which may reach grossly unreasonable (delusional)
proportions.
* Recurrent thoughts of death or self harm, wishing to be dead or contemplating suicide.
Do you remember trying to figure out a way
you could leave a note on your friend's door
when the wind was blowing7 Finally, you de
cided the only way you could leave your ur
gent message was to use your chewing gum
to stick the note to the door This is creativi
ty! Creativity, we use it everyday and yet, we
tend to equate it with the famous works of
daVinci, Einstein, Thoreau and other famous
people
The process we know as creativity, then is
not so much coming up with something
"new'' as it is finding a unique way to make
familiar things seem new and different It is a
combination of many factors, including curi
osity, openness and a willingness to go be
yond the accepted norms The creative per
son can come up with new ways to solve
problems, do a presentation, improve bust
ness, stay motivated and have more fun
Unfortunately, suppression of our creativity
happens to most of us through authority fig
ures, parents and institutions (such as poll
tics, religion, education and media) Creativi
ty plays a vital part of our "child within" be
cause expression is freed When expression
is freed we become alive, energetic and ful
filled we become our real <seiuoc
Bringing creativity back into our lives, how
ever, is not without it's perils Self doubt may
bring about fear of criticism when you are
faced with doing something in a new way
What will people think? What if they laugh
at me?" You may wonder if it might be easier
to do it the way you always have It may be
easier, but the tradeoff is that you shut off a
part of yourself with that decision, the part of
you that is the child —that creative, playful,
always new part To cope with this creative
paralysis, first recognize your "creative
crunchers " adapted from Kathleen Martin's
article "The Creative Edge
1 "I might appear silly or foolish.' Nobody
enjoys being ridiculed New ideas, however,
are not born from conformity The willing
ness to risk being made fun of open the door
to creativity
2. "I am not creative " The person whose
self belief says this, rarely even looks at al
ternative possibilities The risk is low. but so
is the interest level and enjoyment ot life /
The "I am creative' self image leads to an \
openness to ditterent ways of doing things, (
and the willingness to experiment and take a )
chance V
3 It's easier not to change We are basi /
catty creatures ot habit Habits free the mind \
to think about more important things But (
habits can crunch creativity It we are un )
aware ot how we are doing it now. how can \
we do it in a new way? We need to do things /
with conscious awareness, not just habit, in \
order to be creative (
4 I must do it right " Early in school, we )
learn that the more we are right, the better \
our grades will be We tend to grow up avoid /
mg situations in which we might tail But the \
creative thinker looks at error as a learning (
tool To a creative thinker, richness ot )
thought is more important than rightness of \
thought. /
5 "It must make sense " One of the things j
that happens when your creativity is blocked (
is that you start disregarding your own ideas )
when they come up because they don't make \
sense OMen it is those very nonsense ideas /
that turn out to be the best ones
We can use our creative abilities to lind (I
new solutions, new combinations and new )]
ways to look at things The following "crea- Vi
tivity expanders'' will give you some ideas to /|
help you think more creatively
•• Develop a positive mental set Begin to (I
think ot ways you have been and are creative
Believe that your ideas are worthwhile, and y
they will be //
" Learn to relax )]
* * Practice using your imagination. (|
** Suspend criticism and judgement for a [i
while. y
■' Increase your awareness by observing /i
something old as new u
’ * Learn to trust your instincts and hunches (I
■' Look tor different "hows” jl
■’ Practice making changes y
*’ Be more willing to appear silly or even be /|
wrong n
We all have creative ability We just need to (I
find it! __/]
by Amy Tantau
it you recognize yourself as Deing in a state or depression, De it
mild or severe, reach out for help. You deserve to be happy. And re
member. tomorrow is a brand new day.
by Deborah Smokey
******
A smile from a
stranger’s face
A happy tear
A warm embrace
Knowing I belong
someplace—
These are things that
make me high.
-Deborah L Smokey
******
SUCCESS
Whatever your mind can conceive and believe, it will achieve. Dream great dreams and make them come true.
Do it now. You are unique. In all the history of the world there was never anyone else exactly like you, and in all
the infinity to come there will never be another you. Never affirm self-limitations. What you believe yourself to be,
you are. To accomplish great things, you must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe. If you
have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost—put foundations under them. Yes you can. Believing is
magic. You can always better your best. You don’t know what you can do until you try. Nothing will come of noth
ing. If you don’t go out on a limb, you’re never going to get the fruit. There is no failure except in no longer trying.
Hazy goals produce hazy results. Clearly define your goals. Write them down, make a plan for achieving them, set
a deadline, visualize the results and then go for them. Just don’t look back unless you want to go that way. Defeat
may test you; it need not stop you. If at first you don’t succeed, try another way. For every obstacle there is a solu
tion. Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. The greatest mistake is giving up. Wishing will not
bring success, but planning, persistence and burning desire will. There is a gold mine within you from which you
can extract all the necessary ingredients. Success is an attitude. Get yours right. It is astonishing how short a time
it takes for very wonderful things to happen. So, do it—and show us the color of your rainbow.
Contributed by Beth Reed
by Barbara Smallwood and Steve Kilborn
Editor: Melanie Steed
Director of Health Education: Joanne Frank
Health Educators: Laurene Shields, Chrissy Bloom, Britt Ellis,
Raymond Boyle, Annie Dochnahl,
Melanie Steed
Layout Design: Kristi Strother, Melanie Steed
Peer Health Advisors: Amy Tantau, Debbie Smoke,
Perrin Elmore, Beth Reed. Karma Wirrick,
Lynn Hedrick
Production: Lotus Child, Sandi Daller, Jennifer Huey
The Well Now is a newsletter
sponsored by the Student
Health Center and produced
by the health education staff
with the assistance of the Or
egon Daily Emerald. All arti
cles are written by students
and GTFs for the health edu
cation program. If you have
any suggestions or are inter
ested in contributing an arti
cle, please call Melanie Steed
at 346-4456 11:30 to 1:30
Tuesdays and Fridays.