Issue 4, 2007
Campus Life
HSC Stress Management
Study without Stress
 |
Copyright iStockphoto.com/anaBGD |
Years 11 and 12 are a challenge for most students. It can be a stress provoking time thanks to the time-pressures and high expectations associated with the HSC.
Study without Stress is a new six-week program being offered at the Macquarie University Anxiety Research Unit (MUARU). The program teaches students cognitive and behavioural skills to manage the stress of increasing workload and pressure for performance associated with the Higher School Certificate (HSC).
The program covers the key areas of:
· Understanding stress
· Stress management
· Challenging unhelpful thinking styles
· Managing high workloads
· Dealing with exam anxiety
· Tips for managing procrastination
· Problem solving
· Tips for keeping perfectionism under control
· Creating a study-life balance
This program is ideal for students already experiencing high stress levels. However, it is also beneficial for students who are in the early stages of the HSC period as they can learn skills to deal with the increased stress that they will face.
"We developed the program because we found that there are a lot of teenagers that believe that if they don't perform in the HSC it will be a catastrophe, their lives will be ruined and they won't get a job," says Macquarie University Clinical Psychologist Viviana Wuthrich. "The program helps students to be more realistic and manage the anxiety that they are suffering."
Study without Stress involves adolescent-only participation in groups of about six to eight and is offered during term time after school.
If you would like further information about the program please contact MUARU on (02) 9850 8711.