Pulse March / April 2017 | Page 66

ASK THE EXPERT

What are the common stressors millennials face on a daily basis ? Why is it necessary to teach them life skills on how to manage stress ?

In this Ask the Expert Q-and-A , HOLLY ROGERS , MD , psychiatrist and mindfulness teacher at Duke University ’ s student counseling center , offers an insightful look at today ’ s millennials in her book , The Mindful Twenty-Something ( published by New Harbinger ). The idea for the book was sparked after she and Margaret Maytan , who codeveloped Koru Mindfulness , the only evidence-based mindfulness training program designed specifically for college-age adults , had a difficult time finding a good companion textbook for their class .

“ Though there are so many great books on mindfulness and meditation , we couldn ’ t find one that spoke directly to the issues that young adults are concerned with : the stresses of college or starting a career ; the uncertainty of their future ; handling relationships with lovers , friends and professors ; and making the choices that will determine their life course ,” Rogers says .

Pulse : Why is it more important than ever to educate young individuals on mental health and how to cope with stress ? Holly Rogers : The value in learning mindfulness in your 20s is that it helps with stress-management , but also , and as important , it allows you to know yourself better , get clear about your values and what gives your life meaning , and then use that information to inform the important life choices you will be making over the course of this important decade of your life .

In regards to stress , it is clear that on many college campuses , the number of students reporting trouble with stress , anxiety and depression has been steadily rising , and utilization of services at college counseling centers is rising so quickly that in many places , there simply are not enough resources to keep up . Using mindfulness as a tool to manage stress and , more importantly , improve resilience , is a useful strategy for helping young adults deal with their stress and enrich their lives .

P : What are some of the most common stress factors affecting millennials ? R : It ’ s important to remember that millennials are an extremely diverse group , so their experiences are wideranging . Emerging adults , those between the ages of 18 to 29 , have high-rates of unemployment and tend to earn low wages , so many face significant financial challenges . For those pursuing higher education , there is the stress of achieving academically , trying to get into graduate school and , of course , paying for their education . For emerging adults in general , there are unique stressors of the developmental stage . Most are facing multiple transitions — changing homes , jobs , lovers — and transitions are stressful , be they good or bad .

P : What are some of the common misconceptions young individuals have about the practice and idea of mindfulness ? R : Most common misconception is that the goal of meditation is to stop their thoughts and make them feel calm . This misconception often gets in the way of sticking with the practice and

64 PULSE ■ March / April 2017