NGU Counseling Department Holds Seminar on Handling Stress
John Peardon, Staff Writer
From the left: Steve Bielby, Sue Suomi, Ruth McWhite and Jared Thomas. Photo courtesy of Steve Bielby.
The North Greenville University Counseling Department held a 40-minute seminar this past Thursday, called “Put Stress In Its Place: Finish the School Year Strong.”
Speakers included Steve Bielby, the director of NGU Counseling, Ruth McWhite from Campus Ministries, Jared Thomas, the director for Student Life, and Sue Suomi, a professional counselor on campus.
“The number one health issue on college campuses is anxiety,” said Bielby. “It compromises your immune system, and it can cause you to have diseases.” After giving some statistics on stress and anxiety, he gave the students some hope and defined the purpose of the seminar. “The good news is that you can do something about it,” he said.
“Stress is really just our reaction to change,” said Suomi. “We are made up of body, mind and spirit, and all three must be kept in balance to deal with stress.”
McWhite shared about her personal struggles with stress, and how Christ has helped her to deal with it. She shared about how when her son moved to the Czech Republic she had to overcome a lot of anxiety.
Reading her Bible helped her to fight the stress. “In your walk with the Lord,” she said, “have something that you can use over, and over again, like a devotional book. We need God’s help, because we can make dumb decisions when we’re getting squeezed by life.”
Thomas also shared some personal stories from his own life and how he learned to deal with the stress of those times. He encouraged students to not bury stressful feelings but to use them. “That stress and that anxiety you feel is what can drive us to success,” he said.
He also shared some practical tips for having good friends in your life and for planning ahead for assignments. “In times of stress is the time to share what you’re going through with others,” he said.
The speakers also encouraged students to come by any of their offices, if a student ever needs to talk or to get counseling.
