Alcohol abuse—The use of alcohol is typically not considered a problem unless it becomes uncontrolled or continuous or repetitive binging.This site can provide you with some information about problem drinking, including a symptoms list and suggestions for seeking assistance.
ADHD—This link can provide you with some general information about ADHD.This disorder is a neurobiological disorder which effects children and adults.Most adults can manage well with ADHD yet when they are attempting to manage an overload of information and issues in their life it can be overwhelming.This is when their ADHD symptoms can easily become unmanageable.
Anger and anger management—Dealing with your anger and frustration can be overwhelming at times especially when multiple things “pile up” and you feel you have no control over the situation yet may have responsibility for it.The link above can give you some additional insight to how working through your anger and frustration in a healthy manner is critical to mental and emotional health whereas bottling up these feelings without any way to express them in a healthy or constructive manner is detrimental to your overall health.
Anxiety—Here is a link to some information about anxiety.Symptoms of anxiety can range from mild to severe and problematic.When anxiety interferes with your basic ability to function (e.g. eat, sleep, daily activities, responsibilities) it is time to seek out assistance.
Burnout—This is a state of emotional, physical and mental exhaustion typically caused by prolonged or intense stress.Symptoms include and overwhelming feeling, being drained, having little energy, low frustration tolerance and/or difficulty meeting the demands of your daily routine.This site on Burnout can provide you with a few additional details and recommendations for seeking help.
Civility—Civility is a form of communication whereby we respect others with our words and actions.Civility includes politeness and being courteous: however, it embodies actions whereby individuals embrace and choose to act civil toward others and incorporate this behavior into the multiple facets of their lives. The link above offers you an opportunity to view the “Civility Project” from Johns Hopkins University.
Communication—Communication is one of the simplest and most complex of all human interactions.There are multiple mechanisms to be able to communicate with others. When we communicate well our relationships flourish better.The link above can provide you with a brief overview of healthy communication and some of the components of understanding what is effective
Coping—Coping is something we all do every day as we manage the ups and downs in our lives.Our coping mechanisms began when we were very young (infancy) and have developed into adulthood.Some of the copying mechanisms we used as a young child no longer serve our purpose, so we adapt those mechanisms to better manage our lives.Coping mechanisms can be very healthy and help us navigate our daily stressors. Alternatively, they can be very unhealthy depending on how we use these mechanisms.Sometimes when our stress is greater than our coping mechanisms can manage in the moment, that is when we feel completely overwhelmed and struggle cognitively, emotionally and physically.The site above describes coping mechanisms and their use.Should you feel that you are not coping well throughout the day and feel overwhelmed most of the time, that is a signal that your current mechanisms are overloaded and not effective.This should be a sign for you to seek assistance, preferably from a professional.
Depression—Here is a link to several publications about depression and its symptoms. Depression can take on many forms from crying, lack of motivation and irritability.
Eating healthy—Eating healthy can take on many forms.Taking 1-2 hours per week to prepare several healthy meals can provide ease of use and decreased time eating out each day.If you are able to meal prep with others it offers a larger variety of foods and recipes as well as creates a fun social activity.
Grief and loss—Understanding the nuances of grief and loss can be incredibly helpful when you are emotionally, mentally, or spiritually struggling with issues.This link can give you some insight into what grief and loss can look like.Sometimes we grieve things that seem minor because they are not a direct loss of life, yet they are something we value, and we can certainly grieve over it in a significant way.
Homesickness—This article about being lonely and having symptoms of being homesick can offer some insight to what you may be feeling being so far away from your family.The suggestions this article offers rings true for those who have been away from their family or loved ones for the first time or for a long time.The adjustment is real and can be overwhelming for some people.It adds to the challenges you might face as you adjust to dental school and the rigors of the program.Finding someone else to connect with and talk to can be extremely helpful.The Office of Counseling and Student Development can assist you with this issue as well.
Isolation/loneliness—Similarly to homesickness, isolation and loneliness can negatively affect your ability to function well in dental school.We experience loneliness for a multitude of reasons, and you may find yourself feeling isolated and lonely at varying times during the program.This is not unusual, and many times passes with activity.However, if you find yourself in a chronic state of unrest or isolated from your classmates and from others, talking about it with someone can be very helpful.Sometimes small adjustments in your life or lifestyle can make a positive impact on how you feel and relate to others.The article attached to the link has some helpful hints to reduce this feeling as well.
Mindfulness—Practicing the art of mindfulness can have wonderful health benefits for your mind and body.This site can offer you some insight as well as some beginning exercises to understand how mindfulness can be helpful.
OCD—This condition is the extreme of anxiety and can be chronic with uncontrollable reoccurring thoughts and behaviors which can preoccupy a person’s mind and time.This link can provide you with additional information about the signs and symptoms as well as the clinical findings and associated studies associated.
Panic—Anxiety is the precursor to panic and panic disorder.Panic attacks are the cornerstone of panic disorder and can seem to come from nowhere and for no reason.They have a very visceral response with our body with sweating, feeling hot, difficulty breathing, elevated heart rate, light headedness, intense fear and even a feeling of going “crazy” or you are about to die.Panic is very treatable and seeking help early can make a marked difference in managing symptoms.
PTSD—Post traumatic stress disorder stems from traumatic anxiety that engages your natural fear response into overdrive that can be sustaining.This site can provide you with some additional information about seeking help and understanding how to better cope, including books and reading material.
Resilience—Here is a link to the American Psychological Association website on resilience.It provides you with an overview of the topic and how to adapt to change as quickly as possible.
Self-Confidence—Understanding self-confidence and how we attain it can allow us to function differently in our lives.Some people seem to exude self-confidence the minute they walk into a room, which is evidenced by their behavior, the manner in which they speak and how they relate to others.The link can give you some information about how self-confidence is built over time and what it looks like.
Self-Regulation—the practice of self-regulation involves understanding and being able to control your behaviors, emotions and thoughts so they don’t hijack your initial response to a situation.It is a cornerstone of Emotional Intelligence and can be a life skill that can assist you in regulating yourself in a healthier manner.
Sexual orientation—This link can be helpful for those individuals who want to learn more about coming out and supporting others who do.
Strengths—This will take you to a website where you can assess your character strengths and better understand how your strengths play into your values.It is a free survey which takes about 20 minutes to complete.Click on the tab at the top that says “Take the free survey.”
Stress—Here is a link to some general principles about stress in college.Typically, most of us can handle stress in our lives each day, however, under the demands and rigors or dental school stress can take on a very different appearance and reaction in our lives.If your typical coping mechanisms and stress relief is not working, you might need to consider talking with someone about how to manage better.
Suicide—This link is to the National Suicide Prevention lifeline.Suicide is a topic which makes everyone uncomfortable and the fact that someone talks about it does NOT increase the likelihood someone will act on it.Actually, talking about it with someone can be quite helpful.If you or one of your classmates is talking to you about suicide you should encourage them to seek professional help.If you are thinking about suicide, there are professional resources in and around campus.Speaking with the Office of Counseling and Student Development or the Associate Dean of Student Affairs are two available resources at the ECU SoDM.If someone feels suicidal or threatens suicide immediate assistance is recommended and calling 911 or going to the nearest emergency room is the best policy.
Trauma—Here is a link to the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress.Trauma looks different for everybody yet has similar patterns.