Navigating the world of emotions on top of stress-inducing deadlines is hard. 

Without help, you may not even know what’s triggering your stress or uneasiness. I’m going to let you in on a little secret: psychology classes are the key to your confusion. From the moment I took an introductory psychology class, I knew I wanted to become a psychology minor just for this reason. Want to know how these classes can help you? I got you! Here are just a few perks of deciding to gain some knowledge of psychology.

You’ll understand why you react a certain way to situations.

I know it’s crazy, right? An explanation of how you react can help you understand how to control your behavior. It can also assure you that you’re not crazy for your feelings. I needed that more than anything.

It helps you grasp the complexity of your emotions.

Emotions are actually a lot more complicated than you might think. Each part of the brain has a purpose, and some control your emotions. Not only is it just the brain, but there are also messengers called neurotransmitters that carry your feelings across your brain. Crazy, right? So, next time you beat yourself up on being “over-emotional,” remember your brain is doing it for a purpose. You’re NOT insane.

Knowing symptoms of mental illnesses could help a friend.

Note: taking a psychology class doesn’t make you a psychologist. You don’t have the knowledge or experience to diagnose someone. What you can do though, is tell your friend to get help if you see symptoms you studied. Having a grasp on the world of mental illness makes you aware of people who may need help. Don’t be afraid to speak up if you see someone exhibiting undeniable symptoms.

It will destigmatize the stereotypes surrounding mental illnesses.

This is huge. There’s a stereotype around mental illness, and it needs to stop. Some don’t realize mental disorders are both physically and mentally debilitating. No, people aren’t making up their illnesses for attention; they actually need help. Just because someone doesn’t fit your idea of mental illness doesn’t mean they aren’t struggling.

You gain a third eye.

Having a new perspective on life is definitely a perk. You’ll be able to see how and why everyone acts the way that they do. You learn about social settings, personality, and so much more in class. Even when you’re not trying to use your knowledge, you’ll be putting it to use.

You’ll see you aren’t alone.

This is the biggest takeaway for me. In high school, I struggled with my emotions and didn’t understand why I was sad all of the time. I beat myself up for something I had no clue how to control. Seeing how mental illness and emotions play in the lives of others really helped show me I wasn’t alone. It helped my own well-being tremendously.

If this didn’t convince you to take up a psychology class or two, I don’t know what will. Thinking about minoring? Look up the psychology minor requirements. I can’t even begin to explain how interesting practical this knowledge is for my everyday life. But remember, if you are severely struggling with a mental illness, you need to seek help. Auburn University Student Counseling & Psychological Services is only one call away.

 Be well, Auburn.

Photography: Abbey C.