By Katherine Gibson (The Cascade) – Email Print Edition: Online Only
It takes bravery to acknowledge personal mental health issues, it takes even more to share it with a journalist so other struggling students can perhaps seek help. But one UFV student has offered to share her journey of mental health counselling. Follow along as she learns to handle her anxiety while taking on all the regular stresses of student life.
On October 15, in conjunction with the 19th annual Depression Anxiety Education Screening Day in BC, UFV’s counselling department set up booths for students to get free screenings and talk with school counsellors.
In response to the event, Gabriella has decided to begin counselling to address ongoing anxiety issues. Prior to attending the screening, anxiety was not an issue that she had labelled as being a part of her life.
“I wasn’t really aware of my anxiety before. I knew that I sometimes had panic attacks and things like that,” Gabriella notes, “but it was meeting with the [counsellor] at the [Mental Health Awareness] event, and actually putting it down on paper that made me realize that I could use some guidance.”
Entering her second semester at UFV and having recently moved from England, Gabriella acknowledges that the large change in her life added a heightened level of stress. And while the move initially did not impact Gabriella’s life, leaving her support network of family and friends, combined with the academic pressures of university life, has left her feeling more stress than she would have in the past.
“I moved from England, got here in January, and then started classes January 7… It was a big move and then straight into university,” she continues. “This semester is a bit more academic too, so I have that sort of stress as well.
“That and I didn’t really feel that I was fitting in—and trying to find friends—it all has become a little bit more overwhelming,” she goes on. “I’ve been pretty strong with it, but I feel that this semester for some reason, whatever it is, it all seems to have blown up.”
However, Gabriella believes that going to the counselling sessions at UFV will improve her ability to deal with the additional stress. In fact, after one session, Gabriella learned several techniques to better pinpoint and deal with her anxiety.
“[The counsellor] isolated my specific needs, and asked me ‘what makes you feel anxious’ or ‘what do you get when you feel anxious – like I get really bad stomach problems or headaches, she notes.
“The first meeting we actually did a lot of just breathing – which I think is important; it’s sometimes hard to just stop and do that—it seems silly—but it was good actually.”
Although Gabriella is admittedly more open to speaking about her anxiety and seeking out help, she acknowledges that many students do not have this same openness or have misconceptions about the counselling process.
“I am so open with things, but I can understand how some people may be skeptical or feel kind of strange about it,” she says. “I mean I went there and we just breathed; I wasn’t there on a couch telling my whole childhood – it’s not like that at all. [The counsellor] had nice music and little waterfalls – it was just peaceful.”
Gabriella recognizes that this process will not provide an overnight solution, but she is hopeful that this experience will help her grow in her ability to live with anxiety.
“It’s not like after one session it’s like, ‘oh this is great, everything’s gone and life is perfect. It’s just little steps, tiny bits that chip away at the stress,” Gabriella concludes. “I’m not going in there expecting a huge overnight change, but it does definitely make you more aware.”
Editor’s Note: This student’s name has been withheld for privacy reasons.
