Stress Management
Stress is a part of life. In law school, stress can come from many sources, including:
- anxiety about being called on in class;
- the pressure of keeping up with the daily workload;
- final exams that count for a student's entire grade;
- the perceived or real pressure of being compared to classmates;
- financial worries, or worries about maintaining a scholarship;
- time management concerns, particularly for students juggling jobs and families along with school;
- social pressures inherent in being with the same group of people, all day, every day;
- dealing with personal and emotional issues that existed before you started law school.
A little bit of stress can be productive: it may cause you to get up a little earlier, study a little harder, and pay more attention in class. A lot of stress is usually counterproductive: bad for your health, bad for your overall happiness and, of course, bad for your grades. It is normal to be a little nervous about your exams; but being so nervous that you are unable to concentrate on studying or freeze up on the day of the exam is a cause for concern. Similarly, law school stress can affect your life outside of law school. Most law students go through brief periods in which they obsess about their school work, snap at friends or family members, or slip up on a non-law school commitment. But if you are beginning to feel out of control, or if the worry about law school is keeping you from functioning either in or out of law school, it is time to seek help.
Recognizing the Warning Signs
(This information has been provided by the Academic Support Program, directed by Professor Herbert N. Ramy, and the University Counseling Center at Suffolk University Law School.)
Before you can begin dealing with your stress, you must recognize its warning signs. Below, we've divided stress' warning signs into Physical, Intellectual, Behavioral, and Emotional signals. Although the lists are quite long, they are by no means all inclusive.
Physical Signals
How Your Body is Functioning
- Tension, or migraine, headaches
- Upset stomach, problems retaining food
- Change in appetite
- Tightness in chest, back, shoulders
- Aching jaw, tight forehead
- Shortness of breath, dizziness
- Excessive sweating
- Sweaty palms
- Tingling sensation in fingers toes
- Nervous tension all over; heart palpitations
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Constant low grade fever
- Cold, or sore throat
- Rashes, hives, skin irritation
- Increased blood pressure
- Always tired
- Menstrual problems, missed menstrual periods
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Behavioral Signals
What You Are Doing
- Change in eating habits
- Eating more less
- Sleep problems
- Too much, too little
- Difficulty talking to, holding, loved ones
- Isolating self from others
- Staying at home or staying at work
- Complaining more
- Increased use of alcohol, drugs, coffee, tobacco
- Change in general activity level
- Change in sexual activity, either more or less
- Pacing
- Increased nervous habit, such as nail biting or hair twisting
- Loss of temper: yelling, throwing, and kicking
- Increased recklessness, risk-taking
- Bossiness or inflexibility with others
- Grinding teeth
- Stuttering
- Sudden outbursts of crying
- Laughing, or anger
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Emotional Signals
What You Are Feeling
- Less interest in hobbies, familiar fun activities
- Upset by the unexpected
- Sudden shifts in mood
- Frequent and/or recurring nightmares
- Vague feelings or uneasiness, restlessness
- Feelings of being swamped, overwhelmed
- Feelings of anger, resentment
- Intolerance, irritability with others
- More easily frustrated
- Increased fear of failure
- Feelings of inadequacy, powerlessness, hopelessness
- Changed interest in sex, either more or less
- Apathy, general dissatisfaction
- Desire to cry
- Reduced confidence
- Fear that everyone except you is doing fine
- Worry that you are asking for too much help or too much time from others
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Intellectual Signals
How Your Mind is Functioning
- Having difficulty remembering recent information or details of recent situations
- Less able to make decisions
- Difficulty concentrating
- Attention span shortens
- Feeling confused, especially with familiar tasks
- Repetitive thoughts
- Continually thinking particular thoughts
- Misunderstanding what others tell you
- Increasingly poor judgment
- Thoughts of escaping, running away
- Racing thoughts
- Unable to slow down thought process
- Loss of objectivity
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Resources
The Academic Success Program is the best place to turn for issues related to academic skills. ASP tutors are also always willing to listen to your concerns. Other resources ecist within the law school, on campus, and within the community, to which you may turn for help with more specific or more serious concerns. The following list is meant as a starting point for finding assistance:
The Office of the Assistant Dean for Students and Multicultural Affairs
Dean Darrell J. Davis
Email: ddavis06@hamline.edu
Tel: 651-523-2966
Dean Davis is responsible for virtually all matters involving student life. Specifically, his office provides assistance with:
- short term personal and academic counseling
- disability accommodations
- examination accommodations
- scholarship information
- leaves of absence, medical or otherwise
- discrimination and harassment complaints
- Hamline University and community resources
- student organizations and activities
- emergency student loans
Hamline University Counseling Center
All counseling services are free and confidential. The doctoral-level counseling staff and interns can assist students with a variety of concerns, but can also facilitate referrals to off-campus providers when more intensive or specialized care is needed. For information or to schedule an appointment, see the Counseling Center's web page at:
http://www.hamline.edu/hamline_info/offices_services/student_relations/studentaffairs/chs/index.html
Lawyers Concerned For Lawyers
Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers offers free, confidential help for law students who suffer from alcohol, drug, mental health, chronic stress or other major life problems, in addition to other concerns that may cause stress such as job, family, financial or related issues. Free 24 hour telephone counseling is also available.
You can access the Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers website at http://www.mnlcl.org/, e-mail LCL at help@mnlcl.org, or call 866-LCL-MINN (866-525-6466).