Skip to content

Month: December 2020

Published on

This is the last part of the Freshman FAQ, and it focuses on wellness.

Q: I’m from a warmer, sunnier climate, and I think I’m experiencing seasonal affective disorder (SAD). What should I do?

A: Light therapy with a sunlamp is an effective treatment for SAD. Contact the Wellness Center or the Counseling Center to learn where you can access a sun lamp on campus, or make an appointment to learn other methods of coping with SAD. 

 

Q: How can I get more sleep?

A: The reason for lost sleep is different for everyone, but if you’re losing sleep due to schedule-overload, please make an appointment with an Academic Coach, who will help you with your time-management skills and managing academic-related stress. If there’s something else going on, and you want to talk about it or learn how to manage the stress it causes you, please make an appointment with our Wellness Center or Counseling Center.

 

Q: My family is putting a lot of pressure on me to succeed here. How can I manage the stress that this causes?

A: Your Undergraduate Dean is a great resource to help you overcome personal and family hardships. Talking to someone at the Wellness Center would be great as well, and for long-term stress management, you should make an appointment with the Counseling Center.

""Q: I am struggling with substance abuse, and I want to stop. Who can I go to for help?

A: For counseling, make an appointment with the Counseling Center. The Wellness Center also offers a program called BASICS, a confidential, evidence-based program to reduce high-risk drinking. Email BASICS@Dartmouth.edu to schedule a one-on-one session.

 

Q: Who can I talk to for support in dealing with sexual assault? 

A: I am sorry that you have to go through this, but please know that you don’t have to go through it alone. The Title IX Office provides a list of emergency resources. If you are in a crisis, please call 911 for medical attention or WISE, a 24-hour hotline at (866) 348-9473. WISE is a confidential resource, which means they cannot share the information you disclose unless required by law. 

For long-term help, you can contact the Counseling Center, or if you prefer pastoral counseling, contact any of the ordained clergy affiliated with the Tucker Center. They are also a confidential resource, and they are familiar with resources and processes available to address sexual assault, gender-based harassment, and other forms of sexual misconduct. You can also reach out to an active SAPA, a peer who has undergone 34 hours of support-training. While SAPAs are neither a confidential nor private resource, they will report the subject matter of your discussion to their supervisor without disclosing your name and otherwise keep the conversation private. Dartmouth College Health Service has created a gender-based violence resource page that can help you find long-term support. 

 

Q: What should I do if I think I have an eating disorder?

A: Please contact the Primary Care department at 603-646-9401 or the Counseling Center at 603-646-9442. Dartmouth College Health Service has an FAQ and resources for students with eating disorders.

Published on

PART 2

 

Q: There’s so much to do here that I feel overwhelmed. How do I decide which opportunities are the best for me?

A: Consult with an Academic Coach! They can help you develop your goals, which will help you see opportunities that relate to what you want to do, and your Undergraduate Dean can guide you in maximizing your Dartmouth experience.

 

Q: How do I figure out what the heck I want to do with my life?

A: For help deciding what you want to study, consult with your Undergraduate Dean. For help figuring out what you want to do after college, make an appointment with the Center for Professional Development by clicking “Dartboard Student Login” and clicking “Coaching Appointments” on the left side of the screen.

Q: I don’t have any friends while everyone else already has established friend groups. Is there any hope for me?

A: You’re going to college in the middle of a pandemic. It is completely normal to feel lonely right now. Plenty of Dartmouth students don’t find close friends until their sophomore year. Until then, I would join clubs, reach out to people in class using the zoom chat, join a tutoring group, or sign up for the Mental Health Union pen-pal program. Don’t forget to call your friends and family from back home, and if you need additional support, please contact the Wellness Center or the Counseling Center. Just know that it gets better. 

 

Q: I just made friends, and now I’m not going to see them for another four months. How can I keep up with these friendships?

A: Text them, FaceTime them, study together over Zoom, send each other updates or pictures of your hometown, send emails, or become penpals! The possibilities are endless. If you’re looking for a new friend, Mental Health Union has created a penpal sign-up that’ll match you with another Dartmouth student, and you can choose how to communicate with each other! 

 

Q: My roommate goes out every weekend even though we are in a pandemic, and I’m worried about my health and safety. What should I do?

A: Talk to your UGA! They will help you approach or settle any roommate conflicts that you have, and if it’s more serious they can refer you to another resource. 

 

Q: How can I cope with homesickness?

A: Talk about it with a friend, your UGA, a sibling who’s already left home, or a professional at the Wellness Center or the Counseling Center. You should also keep in touch with your family and friends, and bring reminders of home to campus. Give yourself time to explore Dartmouth and make it your home away from home!