For students and faculty alike, exam week is notorious for pushing stress levels to their limit. While it is normal for students to feel pressure, or for faculty to feel overwhelmed as the semester wraps up, there are times when that pressure manifests in ways that are more than just typical stress. Recognizing early warning signs, both subtle and serious, can be crucial in offering support, preventing escalation and ensuring campus safety.

During exam periods, students often face multiple responsibilities at once: academic performance, family expectations, financial stress and plans for the future. For some, these pressures become overwhelming. Behaviors that indicate someone may be struggling beyond what is typical for exam week include, but aren’t limited to, expressions of hopelessness, such as talking about wanting to die; feeling helpless; and making end-of-life plans.

Changes in behavior, mood or appearance can also be warning signs, especially when they seem sudden or unusual. Someone may withdraw from friends, family or activities they used to enjoy. A noticeable drop in grades or performance at work can be another indicator. Others might appear argumentative, uncooperative or unwilling to follow rules or guidelines.

Physical signs of agitation can sometimes appear before words do. Clenched jaws, tight fists, pacing, restlessness or visible shaking and trembling may signal emotional buildup or internal distress. When someone’s behavior becomes impulsive or makes others feel unsafe, that is a clear reason for concern.

Interactions with others may also shift in concerning ways. Stalking, harassing, bullying or getting uncomfortably close to someone can reflect that something deeper may be going on. Some people might begin misusing alcohol or drugs, especially alongside other stress-related behaviors, as a way to cope.

More serious warning signs include threats to harm themselves or others, showing or threatening to use a weapon, or seeking information about security systems. They may talk or joke about violence, fantasize about hurting themselves or others, or research and plan for potential attacks. These behaviors deserve immediate attention and, if the threat is immediate, law enforcement or University Police should be called.

It is also important to understand the difference between risk factors and stressors. Risk factors are ongoing realities in a person’s life that already increase the potential for harmful behavior. Stressors are events that create added pressure, anxiety or grief. While stressors do not cause violence on their own, they can intensify existing risk factors, especially during intense times like exam week.

Common stressors include, but aren’t limited to:

• Breakups and/or divorce
• Financial struggles
• Death or illness of a loved one
• Academic failure
• Employment changes
• Legal trouble
• Conflict with peers or coworkers
• Major life transitions such as graduation, marriage or becoming a parent

When several stressors pile up at once, someone may reach a point where they feel overwhelmed or unable to cope. If someone already has various stressors affecting them, exams and the work or academic pressure that comes with them can be too much.

If concerning behaviors appear, it is important to take them seriously. A simple check-in can make a big difference. You do not need to diagnose or solve anything — by submitting a Concerning Behavior Referral, you’re doing your part in keeping the NC State community safe. If someone is in immediate danger, University Police or local law enforcement should be contacted right away.

Stress during exam week is common, but suffering in silence should not be. Knowing the signs and speaking up may protect our community or give someone the support they need during a difficult time. 

Sources and Additional Research

• “5 Strategies to Help You Manage Finals Week Stress | University Health Center | Nebraska.” Unl.edu, 2024, health.unl.edu/5-strategies-help-you-manage-finals-week-stress/ 
• “Concerning Behaviors.” Department of Risk Assessment, 2025, vptm.ehps.ncsu.edu/violence-prevention-and-threat-management/concerning-behaviors/
• “Managing Final Exam Stress | Open Arms Wellness.” Open Arms Wellness, 9 Dec. 2024, www.openarmswellness.com/articles/managing-final-exam-stress 
• “Tips for Coping with the Stress of Finals Week.” Msj.edu, 2025, www.msj.edu/news/2025/04/Tips%20for%20Coping-with%20the-Stress-of%20Finals-Week.html

This project was made possible by funding from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships, opportunity number DHS-24-TTP-132-00-01.