College is usually associated with a new life and new perspectives, a higher level of independence, new interesting people, and lots of fun. That is an upside everyone tries to manifest, forgetting about the obvious downside, which is anxiety.
Students find themselves in a new environment, which sometimes may feel hostile. They face different challenges, such as living with roommates, managing homework overloads, and coping with unconventional tasks. And then there is this super challenging 'project' of trying to preserve your integrity while developing an identity of an adult.
What Should You Know About Anxiety?
Experiencing anxiety from time to time is quite ok. As you try to adjust to a changed life situation, gain as much knowledge as possible and build skills, both communicational and professional, you will inevitably feel restless and tired, nervous and worried.
There are actually several types of anxiety every college student can occasionally experience:
anticipatory anxiety, which is feeling agitated when waiting for something, in the run-up to a planned event or occurrence;
separation anxiety, which is feeling homesick after going off to college and living on your own;
social anxiety, which is feeling intimidated when there is a need to approach your professors, present a project in class, initiate a friendship or a romantic relationship;
test anxiety, which can be caused by your study habits, unrealistic expectations or poor performance on previous tests;
anxiety over peer pressure, which is feeling forced to do some dubious things like drinking alcohol, using drugs, having sex because of your desire to fit in, to belong to a group of peers.
Generally, anxiety is common among students, which is proved by Penn State University's Center for Collegiate Mental Health report. The study argues that average rates of student self-reported anxiety and depression increased over the past eight years. Almost 63% report feelings of anxiety, and for over 24% of them, it is the top concern.
It is not quite clear what is causing this upward trend. However, the hypothesis is that the situation is exacerbated by the time spent on electronic communication (social media) and reduced well-being among young people. Electronic communication replaces healthy behaviors like sports, face-to-face communication, studying, and interferes with the transition to college life.
Other predominant factors causing anxiety outbreak are:
underdeveloped brains
The frontal lobe of the brain, responsible for critical thinking and decision-making, does not fully develop until the mid-to-late 20s. It is the reason why students feel overwhelmed when faced with pressure or problems.
stress
Stressors that students have to cope with are numerous, from grades and deadlines to work and finances. When in high school, they could share the burden of these issues with their parents. And if parents were too involved in their children's lives, the latter might lack skills needed to self-soothe or persevere amid failure.
lack of sleep
You know that a regular sleep schedule is essential for your health and wellness as it helps to reduce anxiety symptoms and do better in school. Yet, college life with excessive caffeine intake, all-nighters, parties, and possible substance abuse contradicts the idea of a healthy lifestyle, thus increasing the risk of anxiety disorders among students.
fear of the future
Students find themselves under enormous financial pressure as university education costs a fortune, while there is no certainty that they would be able to find a job after graduation. Sagging economy wrecked by the pandemic casts very long shadows over their prospects, which does not really add optimism to their life.
Anxiety symptoms can take different forms on the following levels:
physical (fatigue, unusual changes in weight, headaches, nausea, etc.),
cognitive (chronic worrying, difficulty maintaining focus, trouble remembering things, etc.),
emotional (loss of patience, feelings of sadness, depression, irritability, sense of isolation, etc.), and
behavioral (changes in sleeping and/or eating habits, procrastination or avoidance, nail-biting, frequent lying, problems in interpersonal relationships, etc.).
How to Cope with Anxiety?
If you are struggling with anxiety, these tips can help you manage stress and overcome the feelings of unease, nervousness, worry, apprehension, and/or fear:
Seek assistance
Campuses usually offer resources for study support and academic advising. Besides, if you need help with your home assignments, you can refer to essayservice.com, a professional essay writing service. Anxiety makes you feel reluctant to do your homework, and you naturally try to delay completing your responsibilities. So it is better if you mitigate the situation early.
Contacting counseling centers is also a step in the right direction. Alternatively, you can reach out to religious or spiritual leaders or just talk to your friends or peers. Do not hold back your emotions.
Practice self-care
You need a self-care routine that would include such common things as healthy sleep patterns, a balanced diet, and regular exercise. It would be great if you could engage yourself in activities helping to relieve stress. It could be intramural sports, a hobby, or a social club.
Face your fears
Young people are experts at hiding their true feelings and emotions. And you can find thousands of reasons and excuses for you to avoid stressors and skip classes or stay in bed all day. However, over time this will make you feel even more anxious. Do not stop, be ready to embrace challenges and start small taking baby steps. Any complicated task can be broken down into smaller components, which will be easier to cope with.
Integrate healthy coping mechanisms
It is vital that you learn to self-soothe and treat failures and difficulties as problems that can be solved. This will make you feel more confident and resilient.
You should also master some relaxation techniques. These could be meditation or visualization. But other ordinary things like slowly counting to ten or playing with a stress ball, are also helpful.
Think positive
Positive thinking can improve your well-being and produce a lower level of anxiety. Focus on all the good events and situations in your life, and remember to take note of your successes every day, even the tiniest ones.
