Explore this resource we put together explaining common topics you may be interested in learning more about from ADHD to grief to time management.
If you are a UL Lafayette student, faculty and/or staff member and you have concerns about yourself or someone who is presenting any of these symptoms or behaviors and would like to speak with a counselor, please contact the Counseling & Testing Center at 337-482-6480.
· Breathing rate increases
· Heart rate increases
· Blood pressure rises
· Muscles tense
· Irrational thoughts about others
· Negative self-statements
· Headaches
· Gastrointestinal problems
· Respiratory disorders
· Skin disorders
· Nervous system disabilities
· Circulatory problems
· Exacerbation of previously developed health problems
Emotional disturbances (including suicidal tendencies)
Occasional anxiety is a normal part of life. Many people worry about things such as health, money, or family problems. But anxiety disorders involve more than temporary worry of fear. For people with an anxiety disorder the anxiety does not go away and can get worse over time. The symptoms can interfere with daily activities such as job performance, schoolwork, and relationships
-unrealistic or excessive worry
-dizziness
-unrealistic fears about objects or situations
-racing or pounding heart
-exaggerated startle reflex
-dry mouth
-sweatiness
-upset stomach
-cold, clammy hands
-rapid pulse or breathing
• Stress
• Negative self-talk which can make anxiety worse by allowing one to assume the worst
• Genetic/Environmental factors
Assertive behavior involves expressing your wants, needs, thoughts, and/or feelings while respecting the rights of others
Depression is a mood disorder that affects your entire body, including your moods, thoughts, and behaviors. Depression is not a sad mood that passes, nor is it a sign of weakness. If left untreated, the symptoms may last for weeks, months, or years.
An individual who experiences five or more of the following symptoms may be depressed:
• low motivation level
• avoiding friends
• difficulty concentrating
• changes in eating patterns
• changes in sleeping patterns
• suicidal thoughts
• unpleasant, negative thoughts
• an inability to experience pleasure in daily activities • feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness
• crying spells
• loss of energy
• lack of sexual desire
• a combination of biological, genetic, and physiological factors.
• Some episodes of depression can be situation-induced. (For example, loss of a loved one, loss of ones job, difficulty adjusting to college, parental conflict, and financial problems).
• Depression may be due to a chemical imbalance, physical illness, drug and alcohol use, or an inadequate diet
Definitions:
1). Anorexia is characterized by deliberate and obsessive starvation in pursuit of thinness. Individuals are usually significantly underweight.
2). Bulimia is characterized by eating excessive amounts of food in short periods of time, usually in secret, and is followed by some form of purging behavior. Most individuals suffering with bulimia realize that their behavior is abnormal and try to keep it a secret. Individuals are either slightly over, or at average body weight.
3). Binge Eating (or Compulsive Overeating) is characterized by periods of uncontrolled, impulsive, or continuous eating beyond feeling comfortably full. It is usually not followed by purging. Individuals range from overweight to obese.
Significant weight loss/Fatigue
Loss of menstrual cycle
Low body temperature and extreme sensitivity to cold
Hair loss and muscle loss
Dry skin/Severe dehydration
Restrictive eating/Excessive exercise
Use of laxatives, diet pills, or diuretics
Strict rules regarding eating
Isolation and withdrawal
Dressing in layers to hide weight loss
Binging, in some cases
Self-worth determined by food intake
Intense fear of gaining weight
Extreme concern with body size and shape, might make repeated negative comments about self
Perfectionistic beliefs and behaviors
Weight fluctuation
Dental issues such as tooth decay, staining, tooth sensitivity as a result of self-induced vomiting Swollen glands and puffiness around cheeks
Fatigue
Abdominal pain associated with overeating
Irregular bowel movements and/or constipation from use of laxatives, diuretics, diet pills for purging
Eating large quantities of food in short period of time, usually in secret
Episodic binge eating and purging
Rigid or harsh exercise/fasting
Frequent trips to bathroom after meals
Some isolation and/or avoidance of social eating
Self-worth determined by weight
Depression/Anxiety
Disgust with self, guilt
Feeling out of control and powerless when binging Feelings of loneliness and isolation
Intense fear of gaining weight
Fatigue
Weight gain
Binging, without regard to fullness or feelings of hunger
Restriction of activities due to embarrassment about weight gain
Excessive dieting
Eating small amounts of food in public and binging in private
Self-worth determined by weight and control of eating
Depression Guilt/Shame
Feel out of control and powerless when binging Disgust with self and inability to control eating Preoccupation with food
Use of food as comfort, often eat after an emotional stressor
Grief is a natural emotional reaction to a significant loss of someone or something that can be associated with many life changes and transitions. The loss can either be sudden or expected. It is also the process of working through the pain of loss, which is necessary for functioning
• Death of a spouse, family member or friend
• Personal illness or injury
• Loss or gain of a career opportunity
• Death of a pet
• End of a relationship
• Leaving home/ moving to a new place
• Sudden close of a life goal
• Loss of income
• Loss of pregnancy
• Graduation
1) fear of retribution
2) fear of losing control
3) fear of being blamed
4) fear of not being believed
5) anger
6) self-blame
7) shame
8) guilt
9) depression
10) denial
11) numbness
12) re-experiencing the violence in dreams, thoughts, flashbacks
13) avoiding situations similar to those in which violence occurred
14) hyper-vigilance
15) startling easily
16) abusing alcohol and drugs
17) behaving compulsively in terms of sex, gambling, eating/starving
Impulses are thoughts that inspire behavior. Whether or not you actually do the behavior depends on how much control you have. As humans, many of our impulses are directed towards bad behavior. Alone, this is not the problem. The problem begins when there is not enough control to prevent us from engaging in behaviors that are harmful or socially unacceptable. Disorders of impulse control stem either from lack of internal control, a lack of external control, or both
Aggressive acting out
Assaulting others
Destroying property
Compulsive stealing
Setting fires
Maladaptive gambling
Inflicting self-harm
Substance abuse
1) physical abuse or battering
2) sexual abuse
3) psychological abuse
4) financial abuse
Possessiveness, sexual jealousy, intrusiveness, and attempts to isolate the victim are typical of people who batter and abuse. The victim withdraws from others until they become even more dependent on the batterer. Isolation and lack of support makes the victim increasingly vulnerable to the abuser.
Sexual violence is any non-consensual act (verbal and/or physical), which breaks a person’s trust and/or safety and is sexual in nature. The term “sexual violence” includes but not limited to: rape, date/acquaintance rape, incest, child sexual assault, marital or partner rape, sexual harassment, exposure, and voyeurism. Sexual assaults are acts of violence where sex is used as the weapon. Victims/survivors of sexual violence are forced, coerced and/or manipulated to participate in unwanted sexual activity.
A variety of strong emotions—fear, anxiety, depression, guilt, disorientation, powerlessness, shame, shock, disbelief, embarrassment, denial, anger;
A number of physical problems—sleep disturbances, nausea, stomach problems, change in eating habits, nightmares;
Confused and alone, wondering if and how you should tell your family and friends;
Even though the sexual assault occurred a while ago, you would now like to talk to someone about what happened.
Unwanted and unwelcome sexual advances, demands for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical behaviors with a sexual connotation are considered sexual harassment when:
• Submission to such behavior is made either implicitly or explicitly a condition of a person’s employment, academic achievement, or living circumstances;
• Submission to or rejection of such behavior by a person constitutes the basis for employment or academic decisions affecting that person;
• Such behavior has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with work, academic performance, or living conditions by creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment.
· Fatigue
· Headaches
· Gastrointestinal problems
· Weight change
· Sleep disturbances
· Panic reactions, phobias
· Sexual problems
· Feelings of powerlessness, confusion
· Shock, denial, fear, frustration, feelings of betrayal, anger
· Shame, guilt, self-blame, low self-esteem
· Isolation, anxiety, depression
· Drop in academic or job performance because of stress
· Decreased work satisfaction
· Withdrawal from school or work, absenteeism
· Loss of job or promotion
· Change in career direction
Stress is the body's natural reaction to difficult or harmful situations -- whether they’re real or perceived. When you feel worry or tension caused by challenges or threats in life, you may experience a number of different symptoms.
Individuals who are suicidal may display clues and/or warning signs that can include direct or non-direct verbal warnings:
• Talks about or makes plans for suicide
• Expressing hopelessness about the future
• Withdrawal from friends and/or social activities
• Have a recent severe loss
• Lose interest in hobbies, work, school, etc.
• Gives away possessions
• Have attempted suicide before
• Take unnecessary risks: are reckless, and/or impulsive
• Declined hygiene and/or personal appearance
• Increased use of alcohol or drugs
• Faced with a situation of humiliation or failure
• Have a history of violence or hostility
• Have been unwilling to “connect” with potential helpers
• Increased agitation or irritability
Wellness is the ability to cope effectively with life and create satisfying relationships. When you have a balance, you have a positive attitude, high self-esteem, a strong sense of self, and the ability to recognize and effectively communicate your feelings to others.
Being successful at the university level will require a more careful and effective use of time than ever before. Time management plays an important role for university students, because the ability to prioritize is the key to maintaining a healthy and balanced lifestyle.
One of the best methods to use your time efficiently is to plan by creating a time schedule.
1. First list all exams, projects, and papers with their due dates.
2. Break large projects into smaller tasks, such as writing just the introduction for a paper or doing library research and select dates for the completion of each task.
3. Plan to schedule tasks when your energy is high, and your concentration is at its best.
4. Map out a weekly schedule. Label the various tasks A (high priority), B (medium priority), or C (low priority), depending on the necessity of completing the task, and focus on performing the high priority tasks first.
5. Do not forget to schedule in time for sleeping, eating, socializing, and exercise or relaxation time.
6. When planning how to use a large chunk of time, it is usually more effective to alternate subjects or tasks, so that in a 4 hour period you should spend 1 hour on 4 different subjects
7. Anticipate deadlines and high stress periods (midterms, finals, project deadlines) and plan for extra study hours
8. Plan frequent breaks; they help to relieve stress and sustain motivation, but only take 10- 15 minute breaks per hour of work