Preparing for Summer Break
Counseling Services
Self-Care During Summer Break
Making it through finals and to summer break can be one of the most relieving things for any college student. You have made your way through another academic year and are rewarded with a break from school to recharge, relax, and catch up on much needed sleep!
However, making constant shifts can be challenging. Regardless of how well you tolerate transition and manage stress, making the shift to college, back home, and back to college again can be challenging. There are many things you can do to make any transition smoother and ensure that you are appropriately coping with stress.
Potential Challenges
- Being out of your normal routine:
In college, you likely developed a routine or schedule that you followed on a daily basis. This might have helped you keep motivated and productive. While you are at home or traveling, be conscientious about your symptoms and monitor their intensity. Be intentional about making self-care a priority to prevent your symptoms from increasing.
- Exposure to increased stressors:
As you settled into your college life, you have likely made new friends who have become your family away from home. Hopefully you have also created a network of supporters who have helped you cope with stress. Sometimes, visiting home or seeing old friends can trigger emotions you may have not been exposed to for a long time. Holidays and celebrations might also bring more chaos, stress, or anxiety. Put your positive coping skills to use when you recognize a trigger and practice working through hard emotions or stressors you might experience.
- Separation from primary support group:
Is your primary support group on or around your college campus? This may include your therapist or counselor, professors/staff, medical doctor, mentors and friends. If you regularly meet with your support team, it can be challenging to take a break from a regular treatment schedule. Start reaching out to your support people at home now, so you can make plans before returning home. Also, get in touch with your friends on campus and talk about scheduling times to check in with each other while you are at home.
Mental Health Does Not Take Breaks!
If you find that you are having difficulty adjusting or are experiencing distressing symptoms, seeking therapy in your hometown area may be beneficial.
There are several ways to find a therapist. One would be to check your insurance for providers that are in-network. Also, your primary care physician may be able to refer you as well. In the event that you do not have insurance, many agencies offer a sliding scale fee. Sliding scale fees are variable prices for services based on your ability to pay. Also, outpatient counseling may be offered at your nearby hospital. If this is an option, check to see about any charity care or financial aid benefits that may be available.
Once you have found the right agency or therapist for you, contact them prior to leaving Knox. Many agencies and therapists, especially psychiatrists, have waiting lists that may consist of a few weeks to a few months. By making your appointment prior to returning home, you won’t have to wait as long to get in once you do return home. The same is true for when/if you return to Knox.
For mental health emergencies, contact 911 or call 1-800-273-8255 to speak to a skilled, trained counselor at a 24 hour crisis center
Enjoy Yourself!
There are several things you can do to remain productive and stress-free!
• Reach out to old friends from home
• Get a job/internship or volunteer- this can serve as a resume booster as well!
• Learn a new skill or take up a new hobby
• Do things you have been putting off
• Make a schedule to avoid that “lost” feeling
• Eat regularly, drink water, and get plenty rest
• Keep in touch with your Knox support system
• Increase the amount of time you spend outdoors
Counseling Services
Making an appointment is easy! Calling is the fastest way to schedule an appointment, but you can also visit our office or send us an email!
Current Staff:
Janell McGruder – Director, Counselor
Megan Downs – Counselor
Cody Maddock - Counselor
Vicki Swedlund - Administrative Assistant
Email: counseling@knox.edu
Website: https://www.knox.edu/offices/health-and-counseling-center/counseling-services
Location: Furrow Hall 175 West Knox St.
Phone: 309-341-7492
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/knoxcollegecounselingservices/