Tips for Overcoming Anxiety as a College Student
Marilyn Gardner Milton, Lawyer
Introduction College can be a stressful season of life, whether you’re living on campus far from home or commuting from living with your family. More demanding academics, changing social circles, and preparing for a future career can contribute to a student’s stress levels. In addition to dealing with everyday stress levels, some students experience more debilitating anxiety. Whether it’s test anxiety surrounding academics, social anxiety preventing the formation of good relationships, or even just general anxiety about everyday troubles can drastically affect a student’s ability to thrive in college. However, there are great resources to support students struggling with anxiety! Keep reading below for tips on overcoming anxiety in college.
Avoid Isolation It can be tempting to hole up in your room and avoid stressful situations when feeling anxious. However, isolating yourself is rarely helpful. Loneliness can exacerbate anxiety, so prioritize social time in your schedule. If you’re struggling to make friends, consider joining a club or organization on campus that aligns with your interests!
Take Care of Your Body Especially if you deal with anxiety surrounding academics or other responsibilities, you might find yourself slacking on self-care. Pulling all-nighters to study or skipping meals to keep writing a paper might get your work done, but it will also take a toll on your body and your mental health. Prioritize getting enough sleep every night and eating regular meals. Your body needs fuel and energy to perform well academically, so take care of it!
Take Advantage of Campus Resources Do you feel like you can’t keep up with your schedule or can’t manage your anxiety on your own? Chances are, your campus has resources available to you. Academic advisors can help you balance your schedule and connect you with tutors or study groups, and many campuses even offer free mental health counseling for students. Don’t be afraid to reach out for help; these professionals are there to help students thrive in their studies.
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