STRESS-RELIEF 102: THE CRIMINOLOGY OF A BURNOUT

 

I’m going to be honest, I’ve been feeling a little bit down lately. But as a Criminology student in my final year, I’ve started looking at my own stress through a different lens.

In my classes, we study why people do what they do. We talk about distorted thinking, those moments when your brain starts telling you lies, like "you aren't good enough" or "you’ll never make it." In Criminology, we learn how thoughts shape behavior and, sometimes, how negative thinking can push people toward dangerous choices.

But here’s what they don't always tell you in the textbooks: Stress is a thief.

When we are pushed to the limit in university, our thinking gets distorted too. We start to feel like our whole identity is just a grade or a project. We feel "strained." There’s actually a famous theory in Criminology called Strain Theory. It basically explains how pressure to succeed without adequate support can lead to deep frustration and stress.

As a final year student, I feel that "strain" every single day.

This is where crochet,  and the research behind it, comes in. I found a quote that really stuck with me:

The repetitive action of needlework can induce a relaxed state similar to that associated with meditation and yoga."  Dr. Herbert Benson

When I pick up my crochet hook, I am literally fighting back against that "distorted thinking." Every stitch is a way of telling my brain to slow down. I’m not just making a beanie or a bag, I’m re-wiring my mind to move away from the "strain" and back toward peace.

Creative therapy isn't just a "cute hobby." It’s a tool to keep your mind from snapping under the pressure of being a student.

Are the thoughts you’re having today actually true, or is it just the "strain" of university stress talking?