know I was uptight, ,,.. quipped Boo Mitchell. For others, it was a constant activity. One student confided, "Oh, I'm tense all the time." For most of the students interviewed, interpersonal relationships were the most stress-producing parts of their lives. "I feel really tense when I'm around a guy 1 like," stated one coed. Noah Lewis commented, "Being misunderstood in my intentions ' - ~ really bothers me. Also falling beneath the expectations of the people I love makes me uptight." Dr. Jack Thomas, Director of the Counseling Center, corroborated: 'The dating situation and personal relationships cause a lot of stress on campus." However, interpersonal relationships were also often a solution to the problems they cause. "When I get really tense, I tend to go into a depression or become hostile. Then the Lord really provides. Usually someone will come along that I really can spill my guts to, or someone whom I can help, which brings me up," said Lewis. There were as many different ways of dealing with tension as there were people. "I usually play my horn or listen to music," said Jon Steffins. "The mood of the music really soothes me. It can exert a calming or a lifting influence, whichever 1 need." Many students enjoyed various hobbies when they tried to unwind. Others meditated or daydreamed. "I just lay on my bed, listen to music, and daydream when I'm trying to relax," admitted Tanya Smith. Another release many students used was sleep. "When I'm down I sleep a lot," confessed one student. "I guess it's a kind of escape, but it works." When other methods failed, some students sought relief at the Couns~1ing Center. Here they found objective, confidential, professional listeners. "When the tension builds up to the point where the students become aware of symptoms like insomnia, lowered motivation and depression and temporary coping measures have failed to alleviate their frustration, then they corne to us," explained Lew Moore, assistant director of counseling. The Counseling Center also aided students with career consultation and premarital counseling, two other areas of common student concern, according to Dr. Thomas Thomas. Students, like all other factions of humanity, experienced concern, frustration and tension. These conflicts were caused by grades, dating, the process of maturing and the need to accept more responsibility. Whether they accomplished it through activities or in solitude, unwinding was a major activity. fud . -...- ,,' ". :
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