The college transition is tough for a lot of people, moving away from home, meeting new people, taking harder classes. I had a tougher time than most. I was always shy and kind of reserved, which held me back once I began college. I also didn’t get along with my roommates very well. They both had personalities incredibly different from mine, and I would often feel like an outsider.
I started to get kind of down on myself. I felt worse and worse every day. I came up with excuses not to hang out with friends, slacked a little on my school work and started losing a lot of weight. I planned on telling my parents when I went home for Christmas break, but I was afraid of what they would think, so it never happened.
Sleep Well
There is no substitute for sleep. Our bodies and minds need it to restore ourselves to functional levels, to grow, even to learn.
Of course, it's not easy to sleep when you're feeling overwhelmed. In fact, nearly two-thirds of Americans say they lose sleep because of stress. That's especially unfortunate because sleep combats some of the fallout of stress, and poor sleep has been linked to significant problems, including:
- greater risk of depression and anxiety
- increased risk of disease
- impaired memory
- reduced immune system functioning
- weight gain
- greater likelihood of injury due to accidents
Are You Getting Enough Rest?
Experts suggest that teens get at least nine hours of sleep a night. Do you?
Ask yourself;
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Am I tired during the day?
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Am I using caffeine or other stimulants to get through the day?
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Do I sleep through the night?
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Do I have trouble falling asleep?
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Do I get drowsy in class?