Relationship Expert Helps Parent Prepare Daughters For College

Aug. 7, 2012 - PRLog -- Relationship Expert Helps Parents Prepare Daughters for College

CINCINNATI, OH  - (August 13, 2012) As young women across the nation head to college this month, research shows that parents play a more important role than ever in preparing their daughters for college life and beyond.

Cincinnati-based relationship expert Shari Goldsmith says stress levels on college campus life are at an all-time high, and emotional health is declining. In fact, 85% of students in a recent study reported stress on a daily basis and an unprecedented 27% of students experience some type of mental health issue during their college years. However, with the right preparation, parents can play a pivotal role in avoiding these issues.

"Often we focus on getting our daughter’s ready physically, but they also need to be ready to handle the experience mentally and emotionally," explains Goldsmith. "There are ways you can make sure your daughter is more prepared emotionally to handle the big changes in her life."

Goldsmith offers the following five tips to parents of college-bound daughters:

1.  Make sure she is educated about healthy eating habits and the need to stay physically active at school. With a change in her routine, it is common for young women to gain weight and exercise less. Exercise is also a good stress reliever and can help her adjust to her new surroundings.

2.  Many young women feel anxiety about leaving for a number of reasons; fear of leaving family and being on their own, leaving good friends and the fear of making new ones, being in a new city and handling the rigorous college classes. Help her talk these fears through and find practical solutions.

3. Decide how often you should communicate with each other. With today’s technology, it’s possible for the two of you to have constant access but is this healthy? Does this let her grow and make decisions on her own? Does this give her to ability to work out issues on her own? Do what’s best for HER.

4. Discuss with her the resources available on campus if she feels stressed, anxious or depressed and is having difficulty coping. Every campus has mental health resources made available for their students and tutoring if she is struggling with academics.

5. It’s important to have a frank talk about drinking, drug use, and the prevalence of date rape on campus. In the majority of date rape cases, women knew their assailants and trusted them. Most of these situations involve alcohol or drug use. It’s best to educate her about using the buddy system-stick with a friend that won’t leave your side for the night. Also, don’t drink from a glass that has been out of your sight.

Goldsmith recently authored a book, "31 days to Finding Your Inner Sass – Shortcuts to Girlfriend Happiness" to help women develop better relationships - with themselves and others. The book is a collection of a daily journeys to find happiness and success in the reader's personal and professional life.

Contact for interviews:
Shari Goldsmith
513-300-9081
shari@sharigoldsmith.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
As a Mental Health Therapist, Women’s Life Coach, Speaker and Author, Shari works with clients and readers to identify the challenges that are standing in the way of you reaching your full potential. After enjoying a very successful career in Business Operations and Program Development, Shari decided to go back to school to fulfill a dream of receiving her Mental Health Degree. Her vast business experience combined with her Mental Health expertise gave her the perfect combination of skills to help women discover where they belong, subsequently reinventing their lives. Learn more about her at www.sharigoldsmith.com.