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Top Ten Ways
To Mess with your Mental Health as a UT Student

#10: STUDY, STUDY, STUDY! All work and no play. What do you have to lose anyway?

#9: When the stress starts to build up, just say to yourself “MORE! MORE! I’M TOUGH ENOUGH TO ENDURE ANYTHING!”

#8: Don’t worry about eating, sleeping, or exercising. Your body can take anything!

#7: You have been admitted to one of the top schools in the country. What else do you need to prove? From here on out, you can slack off as much as you want— no need to put any effort into school, relationships, work...

#6: Obsess about your shortcomings and forget about your successes.

#5: Assume there is no one in the world who understands what you are going through.

#4: Accept nothing less than perfection in anything— in your grades... in your social life... in your roommate, especially.

#3: Say nasty things about yourself (OK, silently) when no one’s looking. Try these handy phrases, for example... “No one will ever like me here.” “I’m not smart enough to be here.” “Everyone (except me, of course) knows exactly how to handle every situation that will ever come up here.” Etc.

#2: Wait until things get REALLY BAD before taking any action.

And Finally, the #1 Way to Mess with Your Mental Health as a Ut Student . . . If THINGS GET TENSE, don’t ask for help! DON’T talk to a friend. And above all, don’t use any of the resources available to students here at UT!

This message BROUGHT TO YOU BY . . .
UT Counseling & Mental Health Center (CMHC)
5th Floor, Student Services Building • 471-3515
24 Hr. Telephone Counseling Service: 471-CALL (2255)

“Top 10 Ways” was written for the UT Counseling & Mental Health Center by John Ragle, Ph.D. Rev. 04/04

Updated 4/27/04
To contact the Counseling and Mental Health Center, please call 471-3515.

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