Building Resilience in Overwhelm
College is a time of significant transition. For most students, this transition into adulthood comes with some adversity. Whether it’s relational or family difficulties, academic stressors, mental health concerns, spiritual struggles or trouble sticking to healthy practices, no student is immune to times of hardship. As a community, we want to provide support, care and guidance during the highs and lows of your college experience, even as you learn to draw on the resources of God and community to build resilience as you face challenges.
What Biola Students Say
Learning to cope with life stressors is a skill that takes time. The question is not if we’ll come across difficulties, but how we choose to respond when difficulty comes. Our prayer is that you’ll build resilience and grit as you encounter new challenges that come with college life, engaging resources given by God through his community to grow in the midst of struggle.
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91%
of students felt overwhelmed with all they had to do.
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65%
felt overwhelming anxiety.
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89%
felt exhausted.
Campus Resources
What one small step can you take to practice emotional well-being?
Learn & Practice Self-Care
- Create a routine to bring stability to your daily life and responsibilities.
- Take care of your physical well-being: sleep, exercise and healthy meals support your ability to manage stress and overwhelm.
- Practice mindfulness and other self-care strategies provided by the Biola Counseling Center.
- Consider "Five Reasons why Christians should go to Therapy" from the Dean of the Rosemead School of Psychology, Dr. Doug Daugherty.
Check out Campus Resources & Events
- Learn skills for healthy relationships through the Center for Marriage and Relationships.
- Follow the blogs and events put on by Peer Wellness Ambassadors that help foster wellness in college life.
- Connect with Financial Aid to demystify the financial aid process.
- Get your basic needs met at the Biola Shares food pantry.
- If you’re starting to feel ill, stop by the Health Center - located conveniently in the middle of campus - for complimentary over-the-counter medicines from the Self-Help wall.
- Discuss how to address academic overwhelm with an academic mentor.
Build your Community
- Connect with your Res Life floor or Collegium commuter community for encouragement and support.
- Find others with similar experiences as you through Affinity Groups, First Gen programs, The Dwelling, Veteran and Military Affiliated Students programs, Commuter Small Groups or Global Student community groups.
- Connect to a local church to build community with those further along in life.
Develop your Skills in Classes & Workshops
- Learn and practice resiliency skills through the free Coping Essentials workshop.
- Learn how to address your stress in your Lifetime Wellness Course.
Talk about Your Concerns
- Connect with others struggling with similar concerns at Group Therapy with the Biola Counseling Center.
- Find academic accommodations for various emotional or physical conditions at the Office of Student Accessibility.
- Talk through current stressors or struggles at the Biola Counseling Center’s free Drop-In Consultations or through Individual Therapy.
- Meet monthly with a Spiritual Director to process God’s work in your life.
- Receive support and prayer from a Pastoral Care staff.
- Discuss your physical concerns with a medical provider at the Health Center.
- Address struggles in relationships with a counselor at the Center for Marriage and Relationships.
- Schedule office hours with a trusted faculty or staff person.
Additional Resources from Biola
Strength to Strength: Joy Amidst Trials
![Chantelle Gibbs speaking at Afterdark Chapel](https://assets.biola.edu/4396738754672012438/attachment/5fd29b442934920001c5b663/emotional-chantelle-gibbs.jpg)
Watch this video to hear Chantelle Gibbs speak at the Biola Afterdark Chapel.
Spiritual Formation in Life's Difficulties
![Todd Pickett speaking at undergraduate chapel](https://assets.biola.edu/4396738754672012438/attachment/5fd29b5581650300015c18d8/emotional-todd-pickett.jpg)
Watch Rev. Dr. Todd Pickett speak at Biola University undergraduate chapel.
The Trap of Anxiety
![Aundrea Paxton speaking at Afterdark chapel](https://assets.biola.edu/4396738754672012438/attachment/5fd29b602934920001c5b666/emotional-aundrea-paxton.jpg)
Aundrea Paxton, psychologist, shares about the trap of anxiety and her personal struggles with anxiety during this Afterdark chapel.
With God Through the Valley of the Shadow
![Christina Lee Kim speaking at Torrey Memorial Bible Conference](https://assets.biola.edu/4396738754672012438/attachment/6012129e4055de0001cbbccc/emotional-christina-lee-kim.png)
Christina Lee Kim discusses God’s presence in our darkness as she shares her story of grief.
Life Comes At You Fast
![Writing in the clouds](https://assets.biola.edu/4396738754672012438/attachment/5fd29b7681650300015c18dd/emotional-sun-rises.jpg)
Read this GRIT blog post by Marijane Fasana on adapting to change.
Dealing with Anxiety and Depression
![Think Biblically podcast with JP Moreland](https://assets.biola.edu/4396738754672012438/attachment/5fd29b8f81650300015c18df/emotional-jpmoreland.jpg)
In this Think Biblically podcast, J.P. Moreland shares his struggle openly and has wonderful, practical advice for those who wrestle with anxiety and depression.
Gratitude: Good for our Mind and Soul
![CCT logo](https://assets.biola.edu/4396738754672012438/attachment/5fd29b9881650300015c18e2/emotional-cct.jpg)
Psychologists Jeffrey Froh and Giacomo Bono discuss the importance of gratitude toward God and others for living a flourishing life on the CCT blog.