Help I'm Sinking!

How much can a mind possibly take? When will it reach the point of being overwhelmed to the point of breakdown? As a college student I have come dangerously close to finding that point where you can no longer handle the stresses and information that we are asked to daily shoulder as we trudge through this thing called an education. But it goes so much further than even learning concepts and information from text books. It even goes beyond what our individual professors can impart on us. It delves into our relationships and the "normal" stresses they are forced to face on a day to day, hour to hour basis.

So what exactly am I referring to? Can you tell me you've ever been in any kind of relationship (child to parent, student to teacher, friend to friend, partner to partner, you get the point) where it hasn't encountered a boundry? It always happens, whether it be in the first week or a year after it starts. And it inevitably puts stress on not only those directly involved, but also on those who are on the "outside" of the conflict.

There can be several "reasons" given as to why these conflicts start. But when all is said and done it comes down to one basic concept as I've come to learn in recent months: the relationship has been violated. Someone stopped focusing on how to best maintain the relationship and started focusing on themselves.

"Well thanks for letting me know that but how am I supposed to prevent this since it seems rather inevitable?" you say. And the answer is: I don't have a complete answer to this. I don't have a perfect formula on how to live a completely stress free life. But I can give a few pointers, a lot of them Biblical:

1. Stop Worrying
It's not going to do you any good. It can't change what's going to happen. Brooding over a problem that may or may not occur does nothing more than stress you out. It churns your insides as you think about the worst possible scenario and then all of the sudden there is no other possible scenarios. It begins to soak up your thoughts and takes away your focus from whatever task you have at hand.

2. Share
You will do nothing but make it worse when you have stresses and fears on your mind and are unwilling to seek counsel and help from both your peers and those above you who you respect (parents, professors, etc...). But when you do share it not only gives you the ability to vocalize your fears, anxieties, and problems to someone who can help shoulder your burdens, but it also gives you a chance to take a step back and look at them and see if you're even being rational in the first place.

That is two ways I can think of right now that can help you with your stress. And of course there are ways to help alleviate it like taking a day off from studying and doing a favorite activity to take your mind away and let it relax. Don't be afraid to cut loose and have fun. It could do you a world of good.

And as always I'll end with a quote:

"Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school."
-Albert Einstein

Until next time.