Mental Health & Stress Management

Mental health is an important part of overall well-being. Whether you are looking for counseling, peer support, tools for managing stress or help during a difficult moment, Texas Tech offers several resources to support you.

On This Page

• Mental Health Services
• Understanding Stress
• Recognizing Stress Responses
• Managing Stress
• Sleep & Stress
• Additional Support

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Mental Health Services

Different kinds of support work for different people. Texas Tech offers individual counseling, group support, digital resources, wellness coaching and spaces where students can connect with others.

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Understanding Stress

Stress is a normal response to demands, challenges and change. Some stress can be motivating and help you respond to a challenge, while prolonged or overwhelming stress can affect your physical health, emotions, relationships and academic performance.

Eustress & Distress

Eustress is beneficial stress that may feel challenging but can increase motivation, focus and excitement.

Distress occurs when demands begin to feel overwhelming or threatening and can contribute to anxiety, procrastination, exhaustion and difficulty functioning.

The Stress Curve

The relationship between stress and performance is not always negative. A manageable amount of stress can support focus and performance, but too much stress can reduce effectiveness and make it harder to cope.

Stress often follows a pattern:

• Trigger: Something creates a demand, such as an important upcoming exam.
• Response: Your body and mind react, such as experiencing dread or worry.
• Outcome: The stress response may affect behavior or health, such as difficulty sleeping.

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Recognizing Stress Responses

Stress can show up in different areas of your life. Recognizing your own patterns can help you identify when you may need to slow down, adjust your routine or reach out for support.

Physical

• Headaches or muscle tension
• Fatigue or restlessness
• Changes in appetite
• Difficulty sleeping
• Frequent illness or feeling physically run down

Emotional

• Feeling overwhelmed
• Irritability or mood changes
• Anxiety or nervousness
• Feeling discouraged or emotionally drained

Cognitive

• Difficulty concentrating
• Forgetfulness
• Negative thinking
• Difficulty making decisions or completing tasks

Relational

• Withdrawing or isolating yourself
• Conflict with friends, roommates or family
• Feeling disconnected from others
• Reduced communication or patience

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Managing Stress

Self-awareness is an important part of stress management. Paying attention to the connection between your thoughts, emotions and behaviors can help you identify patterns and choose healthier responses.

Check Your Mindset

When you notice rigid or discouraging thoughts, consider whether there is another way to look at the situation. A growth-oriented mindset can help you focus on what you can learn, change or ask for help with.

Strategies that can support a healthier mindset include:

• Changing your perspective on a difficult situation
• Practicing self-compassion
• Using healthy coping strategies
• Setting realistic expectations
• Seeking support when you need it

Identify What You Are Feeling

Being able to name an emotion can make it easier to understand what you need and choose an appropriate response. Tools such as an emotion wheel can help identify and describe emotions more precisely.

Learn more about identifying emotions

Practice Healthy Coping

Healthy coping does not always remove the source of stress. Instead, it can help you process what you are experiencing and respond in a way that supports your well-being.

1. Identify what triggered the stress or emotion.
2. Name what you are feeling.
3. Choose a safe way to process or express the emotion.
4. Reflect on whether the response helped you address the situation rather than avoid it.

Helpful coping strategies may include talking with someone you trust, physical activity, spending time outside, setting boundaries, taking breaks, creative activities or meeting with a counselor or wellness coach.

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Sleep & Stress

Sleep and stress can reinforce one another. Stress may make it harder to fall asleep or stay asleep, while not getting enough sleep can make it more difficult to regulate emotions, concentrate and respond to stress.

For many adults, regularly getting approximately seven to nine hours of sleep supports cognitive, emotional and physical functioning.

Strategies that may help include:

• Keeping a relatively consistent sleep and wake schedule
• Creating time to wind down before bed
• Limiting schoolwork and stimulating activities immediately before sleep
• Reducing caffeine later in the day
• Getting regular physical activity
• Seeking support when stress or anxiety consistently interferes with sleep

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Additional Support

Managing mental health and stress can involve more than counseling. Academic pressure, finances, physical health, relationships and basic needs can all affect well-being.