Managing Your Mental Health

When You Need More Help 

Sometimes, grad school pulls us in every direction, causing us to split ourselves too thin, and we struggle; we get tired, frustrated, and/or angry. You might find yourself freaking out on your poor, innocent fiancé for simply asking you “What’s for dinner?” (Oh yes, this is me I’m talking about). While you think you can handle it all on your own and pull through (which maybe you can), there may be some of us who may want to seek outside sources to give us additional support. 

Remember, grad school is going to be stressful, sometimes more so for some than for others, but knowing that there are support groups (they even recently started a support group just for grad students!) and experts to help you cope with that stress and utilizing these resources, you can make your academic career and personal life less stressful and more rewarding and enjoyable. Personally, I struggle with severe anxiety. When things got difficult for me (because of things going on in both my personal and academic life), I was grateful to have them to go to. They provided me with individual counseling, and also gave me outside source recommendations for therapists closer to my home in Midland. You should never be afraid to ask for help. There is a reason that universities have these centers; humans get stressed, scared, worried, nervous, etc. and sometimes we need help getting ourselves mentally healthy. These centers are amazing resources, and you should never be afraid to seek help.

When Help Should Be Mandatory

The Counseling Center is an option for individuals struggling with different issues involving stress. But for some of us, getting help is not an option. It's mandatory. When worrying, fear, and sadness take over an individual's life, they should seek professional help. Clinical depression, anxiety, eating disorders, substance abuse, and thoughts of harming yourself or others are reasons you should seek medical attention.

Luckily CMU offers an amazing free counseling center that offers the following services:
  • Individual counseling,
  • Group counseling,
  • Anxiety and depression management (and possible medical referrals),
  • Help with alcohol/drug abuse issues,
  • Help with college transitions,
  • Stress management,
  • Help with strengthening coping skills,
  • Help with personal growth and development,
  • Help improving academic success by reducing stress and focused anxiety,
  • Teaching study and time management skills.
And there’s even more that they can help with! See the complete list on the Counseling Center homepage. 
Heidi Ashcroft is a recent graduate of Central Michigan University’s English Language and Literature Master of Art’s Program. She lives in Midland, Michigan with her husband, Steve and their two dogs Rollie and Rudy. She enjoys walking with her dogs, snuggling with her dogs, and petting her dogs. She also enjoys the outdoors, reading, and spending time with friends and family.
Central Michigan University respects the diversity of values and opinions held by members of its community. The views expressed on this page are those of the author and not necessarily those of Central Michigan University or its officers and trustees. The content of this page has not been reviewed or approved by Central Michigan University, and the author is solely responsible for its content.