The coronavirus crisis is affecting everyone at the university. Most buildings are closed, exams have been cancelled, and the start of the summer semester has been postponed. In this interview, Wilfried Schumann, Head of the University’s Psychological Counselling Service, explains what this means for students in particular – and how we can cope with the crisis.
Mr Schumann, in your view, what specific consequences does the situation have for students?
A very unusual situation has arisen for students: dates such as exams or submission deadlines, which they had been working towards, have been cancelled. For some who were previously under immense stress, this actually brings relief. They may be enjoying the fact that the time pressure is gone. For others, however, the situation means something quite different: they are losing motivation because the goal they had been working towards is no longer in sight. After all, working towards something helps to channel one’s energy. And perhaps the students had planned to treat themselves to something afterwards. That’s no longer on the cards. Many are asking themselves: How do I deal with this situation? Is it worth preparing if you don’t even know when the exam is coming?
In other words, the real difficulty is actually the uncertainty…
Yes, having to cope with such a high degree of uncertainty is something the current generation of students has never experienced before – nor have we older ones. It’s a shock. But we humans like to be in control, we strive for certainty and we want to plan. Yet in this situation, what defines us as human beings – namely the desire to shape our own destiny – is, for the time being, sidelined. It’s about accepting this, along with all the feelings that go with it – anger, frustration, helplessness, fear or panic – depending on one’s own disposition. We must find a way to cope with the situation and mustn’t wear ourselves down by dwelling on the fact that we cannot change it. It is important to keep refocusing our awareness on the here and now and not to constantly dwell on worst-case scenarios.
So how can students motivate themselves in practical terms in this situation?
Carrying on with your studies now can provide psychological stability, as it allows you to retain a sense of normality and to make a difference through your actions. In the current situation, we advise stepping up what is generally recommended for university life: establishing a good routine and organising yourself effectively. There is now a greater need to tackle things on one’s own initiative. After all, the things that usually shape the day – such as the organised university routine or contact with fellow students on the campus – are missing. That’s why it’s a good idea to impose a structure on yourself, so that your days don’t turn into a muddle. For example, set working hours, establish morning routines to get the day off to a good start, and make sure you get some exercise. Our minds are more alert and productive when we keep challenging ourselves physically.
Many people are now spending a great deal of time together in confined spaces – whether with their partner, flatmates or family. How can we prevent conflicts in this situation?
It’s important to find ways to make living together work reasonably well. This includes, for example, ensuring you have some personal space so you don’t start feeling cooped up. If things get too cramped, you can go outside and clear your head. It’s also a good idea to discuss things with the people you’re living with. You should communicate as well as possible and express your own needs, so you can see what everyone requires and get through this time as smoothly as possible. What rules can you set as a community to ensure there’s room for individual needs? What options are there for some time alone? In this situation, critical issues really come into sharp focus.
If, for example, you’re already having problems with cleaning in your shared flat…
...then these issues can become even more acute. You should therefore not wait until it’s too late, but tackle and discuss problems proactively. Effective communication means not only making your own point of view clear, but also acknowledging others’ perspectives and putting yourself in their shoes. It’s about identifying potential sources of conflict and asking: how can we defuse this? But the situation also offers an opportunity to grow closer, to strengthen our bonds and, for example, to consider what we can tackle together. This ranges from helping neighbours to undertaking projects we wouldn’t otherwise have time for. We humans have the ability, after all, to not merely be victims of circumstances in difficult situations, but also to find new ways of shaping our lives.
What about those who are on their own in this situation – for example, if they are in quarantine?
For people who are on their own, this difficult situation poses an enormous challenge. After all, in times of uncertainty, the best antidote is to have as much contact with others as possible. If we are left to our own imaginations, we can easily get caught up in a spiral of negative thoughts. The best way to counter this is through social contact, as being close to others is reassuring. If this isn’t possible – as may be the case at the moment – then we advise you to ask yourself: How can I stay connected even under these circumstances? How can I satisfy the fundamental need for human interaction via other means of communication – such as the telephone or the internet – even when I am physically alone? And you might ask yourself: Who can I turn to? Many people feel they don’t want to be a burden on anyone and so put up barriers that are completely unnecessary. Instead, you should pluck up the courage to reach out to others and express your need for contact. The chances are good that you’ll receive a positive response, because it’s becoming clear that we’re all in this together.
What other concerns are troubling the students who come to you?
Many students aren’t necessarily worried about their own health, but rather about their loved ones. And for many, it’s about financial hardship and the question of what the future holds. What used to be taken for granted is no longer the case. The longer the crisis lasts and the more people realise that certainties are crumbling, the more these existential questions will weigh heavily on students’ minds. The most important advice we can offer here is to share such concerns with fellow students or family. Talking helps.
What does your counselling service look like under these particular circumstances?
For us, too, the current situation means communicating in a new way. Face-to-face counselling is no longer possible. We offer counselling by telephone, email and sometimes via video. This has the advantage that we can also offer support to students who are not in Oldenburg or who are simply unable to leave their homes. My initial impression is that we can still work very productively this way. And you can even do it whilst out for a walk. ‘Walk & Talk’ – walking through nature can sometimes make you more creative than sitting at home in your flat!
Interview: Constanze Böttcher
