State of Wellbeing, a podcast from South Dakota State University

This week, we are re-releasing our most popular podcast episode, Navigating Anxiety in College. Anxiety remains a highly requested topic for our listeners, and a follow-up to this episode will be coming later this semester.

Join Pharmacy Professor and Medical Professional Dr. Jeremy Daniel, PharmD, BCPS, BCPP and Staff Counselor Julia Walker, MS, LPC-Supervisee as they discuss the ins-and-outs of anxiety. You’ll get answers to some common questions like, what is anxiety, and more importantly, what it isn’t?; What does treatment look like? And how has social media changed the meaning of the word ‘anxiety’? Hang out until the end of the episode for specific tips and skills to manage anxiety right now and how we as a community can support each other. 

Student Learning Outcomes:

1. Students will be able to define anxiety, recognize its common symptoms, and differentiate between normal stress responses and anxiety disorders.

2. Learners will be able to differentiate between healthy and unhealthy coping skills, understanding that while some methods, like alcohol, may temporarily alleviate anxiety, they may worsen it in the long term.

3. Learners will understand the need to have a variety of coping techniques and strategies since no single method works in every situation.

Processing Questions:

1. Have you tried any grounding techniques before? Which ones worked best for you, and why? What are some other self-care strategies you could use when feeling overwhelmed by anxiety?

2. What kind of mental health resources have you found helpful on campus? 

3. How do you balance the pressures of academic performance with the need to maintain mental health?

Selecting or changing a major can be a stressful time for students. In this State of Wellbeing episode, Vice Provost Teresa Seefeldt has a conversation with academic advisor Chanda Walter about successfully navigating the major selection process.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe the major change process at South Dakota State University.

2. List resources available to help students select a major.

Processing Questions:

1. Reflect on your current major. Why did you select that major? How have your feelings about your major changed over time?

2. If you decided to change your major, what should your first step be? What resources should you utilize to explore majors?

3. What is the exploratory studies program and how does it help students find the right academic pathway?

What do wellbeing and wellness actually mean? Explore these concepts and the 8 dimensions of wellness with Caitlin Walters, SDSU Wellbeing Specialist, and Shari Landmark, SDSU Chief Wellness Officer.

Learning Objectives:

• Listeners will be able to define wellbeing and describe the difference between wellbeing and wellness.

Processing Questions 

• What is one dimension of wellness that you would like to focus on improving in the next 30 days, and why?

Learn more about fitness resources in the Brookings community including the SDSU Wellness Center and McCrory Gardens.

Join Kelsey Doom, President and CEO of the Brookings Area Chamber of Commerce, to learn more about wellbeing resources in the Brookings community.

Angela Brown, Clinical Assistant Professor of Athletic Training, shares exercise tips, specifically things that employees can do within the work environment to support holistic wellness.

We've all heard about work-life balance, but are you familiar with the concept of work-work balance? Lynn Sargeant, Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, joins the podcast to discuss how employees can find balance in the different areas of their work.

Employee burnout is a significant problem in higher education. In this State of Wellbeing episode, academic advisor Chanda Walter discusses a specific type of burnout called compassion fatigue and ways to prevent burnout.

Linda Van Maanen joins the podcast to share information about the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

As the academic year comes to a close, Wellbeing Specialist Caitlin Walters discusses career transitions and strategies for maintaining wellness during periods of transition with the Assistant Director of the Office of Career Development Stephen Miedema.