Photo by lor t nnnqitoo
Sandy Tsuneyoshi a staff psychologist at the Counseling Center. Is
actively Involved with International student Issues.
Four reasons why you shouldn't
avoid the counseling center
By Jwim Umg
Many of us h.ni' certain set idea* about the counseling
center, and run all ol these ideas arc positive \ lot ot ttu*se
idea- prevent us from ever wanting to go and talk to a
counselor Ik-low are tour common rationalizations that
prevent student# from getting the help thee are entitled to
• I navr U* ruivl' J UntN muiun U' MV .1 VV'UH-H Ii'i
I his is simplv not trsie In fact there is .1 very low percentage of people
who see a counselor with a deathly serums problem 1 he majority of the jhs>
ple come ,inJ talk about evervJ.iv situations like relationships, depression,
self esteem inability to concentrate, and school-related stresses
• 'Mv problems aren't attes ting my everyday life
Tiki many people ignore real changes in their lives that can tollovv contln t
situations, problems with relationships school ssork and other sources of
stress It anything in your life caus*s an\ change in your mood or behavior
(this can range from having a hard time sleeping, change in eating patterns to
any changes in your regular routine), a counselor can help \s much as we
think those things aren't affecting our lives others might be able to see w hat
we can't see that is bothering us
• Counselors are strangers how can I tell them my secrets’
Chie of the most important things that a counselor can offer you is an
objective opinion You might be deeply caught in a situation in which you
have a hard time seeing things objectively A counselor can help you to put
things in perspective Counselors see mam people with similar problems
e very da \ I hey understand what you are going through
As tor telling a stranger a secret have you ever told a tnend something
you find 1 erv personal to sou and found it s come Kick to haunt you’ I face
voy es er heard ot a counselor doing that’ A counselor s main concern is you
and your well being Better than am of.our friends they have to maintain
confidentiality that i' their job and a part of their code ot ethics
• A counselor won’t help because 1 know what I need to do about my
problems "
I hough we might know what set1 n*ssl to do to solve our problems s\ e
Turn to COUNSELING, Page 4
Weapons for winning the stress management battle
By P*tf 6. VMitiml
As finals overwhelm us as
our parents annoy us as our
relationships drain us and as
our futures taunt us, we can
find ourselves ti^htini; a losing
battle against stress and its effects k ollege may
bring the happiest years of our lives, but it also
brings hundreds of new stresses including separa
tion from home and parents grades, roommate
conflicts, high noise levels overcrowded liv ing
spaces, sleeping and eating disorders, increased
usoot alcohol and other drugs, weight gain, isola
tion social pressures competition, and career/
major choice anxiety If fee lively confronting
these situations can seem to be impossible as they
bombard us from all directions VVhat weapons
can we use to fight Kick? I low can we get the
upper hand in this losing battle1
First of all, we need to realize that stress is
largely internal It has no power over us unless
we give it power. Therefore, leaning how to effec
tively manage our own lives physically and emo
tionally, is the key to victory
,_—--— i
HIKING, Continued from Page I
the tr.nK average around 2 mil«*s in length
For those ot you who do not own a ear
or would rather just do something within
w a I king el istaiu e there s I lend nek s Park
Located about 10 minutes east ot campus.
I lend rick Park otte*rs short, easy trails
that are perfect tor sunn> afternoon* or tor
badly needed study breaks lo get to this
park trom the University, go east on Wth
Avenue until it ends. Take a right on
Fairmount Blvd and take the first left on
Summit Follow Summit up to the park
The University of Oregon Outdoor
Program offers many books on where to go
hiking while in Eugene, as well as other
places ot interest located throughout
Oregon. The Outdoor Program also has
the Grizzly Oregon Trail database, which
lists traiLs throughout the state These
trails range from the most difficult to the
very easiest The outdoor program office
is in room 37 in the E M U downstairs
behind the arcade There are still more
trails waiting for your adventurous foot
It is crucial to determine which factors in our
lives can be changed and which cannot I X-adlines
are normally bevond our control, whereas getting
assignments in on time is within our control It
stuck in traffic, you can either become frustrated
and angry or you can realise that the situation is
bevond their control and relax busier said than
done? I rue. but reminding ourselves to accept
what we cannot change and influence what we
can is a source o< comfort and perspective
[ here are endless physical factors that can also
be of help in stress management
• Diet When you eat well, your body has the
nutrients, vitamins and minerals you need to
spring back from the rigors ot stri'sstul events
Stressful periods deplete vitamin (. several ot the
If vitamins, potassium, /me. copper and magne
sium Stress can also interfere w ith your bod v s
ability to absorb calcium Avoid caffeine during
stressful periods It increases the adrenalin level
in your bloodstream — stressing your body and
literally multiplying the harmful effects
• Exercise. If you are in good physical shape,
you are better able to handle anxiety There is
sometimes no better source of relief and refixus
ing than physical exertion A 20 minute walk or
log can make all the difference Kstablish a weekly
routine
• Sleep. Maintaining the right amount ol rest
will enable you to better cope with stress I ack ot
sleep can even produce its own feeling ol tension
and depression When you are lin'd, anxiety
a fleets you more
• Time management
(Manning your day can better prepare you tor
the struggles that await you Organizers and cal
endars can be ot help in this area I.arge. poster
si/e calendars tor longer term goals can help give
perspective lb setting realistic goals anil working
toward them dailv in manageable paves stress
can tv avoided
• Relaxation I kvp breathing is a natural relax
ant Several deep breaths betore a test can settle
your nerves
• Smile! Smiling lias been proven to have posi
tive effects on your body! You will tv surprisis.1 at
how good it makes you and others feel Also
learn to laugh at yourself! Humor fosters well
being
But all ol these above techniques become virtu
Turn to STRESS, Page 4
BICYCLING, Continued from Page I
dav and Jhursdays arc hard days, Monday and
Wednesday are mellow days, and Fridays is the
social ride For the competitor, it is not too late to
tx-etn training with the road racers lor this year s
racing season It you are interested, stop by the
club sports office or call Mb-Wl7 and speak to
I lurry Fuhrman, the bicycling C lub s coordina
tor
Eugene Bicycle Works: Eugene Bicycle Works
is l ugene s only "do it yourself" bike shop, a pro
ject of the C enter for Appropriate Transportation
(CA I), located at 455 W 1st Ave It has repair
stands, professional quality tixils, a solvent tank,
lubricants, and spare parts It costs is $1 (X) for fif
teen minutes or $4 (X) per hour for use of sup
plies For a dollar, FBW provides five minutes of
"on the spot" instruction A year's worth of
access to the equipment and 10% off of all parts
costs $4K 00 For more information contact
Eugene Bicycle works at 683-.13V?.
LTD: Lane County Distnct hasequiped their
buses with bicycle racks For no extra charge,
you can strap your bike to a rack and take the bus
wherever your heart desires Popular buses are
• 16 to the Mckcnzie Bridge and Ranger Station
and bus #26 to Fall Creek and Dexter Reservoir
Both of these buses go to areas filled with great
mountain biking roads and trails A little
reminder, with your l *>t O student 1.0 card, tare
on till IIO buses in free