Every girl needs some tips for managing anxiety at college. Leaving for college is an exciting time in your life, the first big situation that will give you the chance to be independent and free from lots of parental constraints. In theory, this should be one of the best moments and times of your life, but if you happen to suffer from anxiety, it can quickly be scary, rather than satisfying. However, do not fear. College and anxiety might not be a match made in heaven but they certainly aren’t a pair that always proves to be completely disastrous. As with anything, the trick is to know exactly how to deal with a problem when you can feel that it is starting to bubble up. Here are some great tips for managing anxiety at college.
Knowing that you aren't alone is one of the best tips for managing anxiety at college. The thing to keep telling yourself is that you definitely are not alone in your feelings. With such a big student body, there are likely to be hundreds, if not thousands, of fellow students who are going through the exact emotions that you are right now. They might be better at hiding it, but they are definitely going through it just the same way that you are. It might bring you comfort to realize that you aren’t the only one.
Don’t hold it all inside because that is a sure fire way to make things worse. Turn to someone who you can trust, a friend or family member, or even a college counselor, and open up to them about how you are feeling. Sometimes it can make you feel a million times better just to be able to verbalize your emotions because they have more power if they go ignored. The person you confide in might be able to help you.
Make the conscious effort to check in with yourself every now and then by asking yourself “are my feelings impacting my daily life”? If they aren’t, then you can pat yourself on the back for being able to fight through your anxiety and still operate a normal student life, but if you find that you are taking days, or even weeks away from class in order to let your anxiety die down, then it’s definitely time to reach out for some professional help.
Which brings us to the next tip, Being brave and bold enough to be able to ask for help when you need it! Just because college is your first big solo independent step, it doesn’t mean that you have to try to fix everything on your own. The majority of colleges will have student services dedicated to things like stress, anxiety and depression, so make the most of these services and find the support that you need.
It’s important to register with a GP when you move to college, especially if you have moved to another state or a long way from home. Student services can only do so much, but a GP can actually help to get you sorted with medication if you happen to need it. There is no shame in taking medication for your anxiety. If it is going to help you live a freer existence in college, then that is a great thing!