When people talk about anxiety, they usually define it as a bad thing, although the Google definition for it is “a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome”. So, simplifying, it’s a natural response of our organism to a situation that requires a solution. For example, you have a job interview, and you get nervous thinking whether you’re going to be approved or not, so you choose to prepare and study for it.
It’s important to define that, so people can understand that feeling anxious is not necessarily a pathology and/or a bad thing. If you think about it, it is useful to feel anxious in some situations because it makes you aware that you need to do something. Of course, in this scenario, we are not talking about anxiety as pathology. That’s a whole other case.
Now, you might be wondering: “what is anxiety as pathology then?”
It’s a generalized anxious disorder that requires diagnoses and treatment with a psychologist and maybe even a psychiatrist in case the person needs medication for it. In that scenario, it’s not a natural response of the human body anymore.
Talking with a student – Rayssa Carvalho, 21 years old, journalism student
Rayssa is in her last year of college, so, naturally, she must deliver a conclusion project until the end of the year. She says that her anxiety doesn’t relate only to making the project, but mostly to what is going to happen after she gets her degree. She frequently asks herself: “Is this really what I want? Am I going to follow the path I planned or will a see a new perspective soon?”.
She also states that there is a very noticeable pressure coming from society and family to be already working with something you like as graduate and to have a good paycheck. For her, that’s very utopic because it’s never what happens. But Rayssa believes she can build her future as she goes and get to know herself better throughout her experiences.
To deal with the anxiety, the student uses more than one method. In her opinion, therapy is the place to better understand her thoughts, and learn how to deal with her anxiety, but, at the same time, she understands that life is not a recipe for cake. She also tries to enjoy life by her friends’ side, since it’s a great way to distract yourself and have fun.
I don’t believe you should dedicate 24 hours a day for your project. In fact, I think that can be very unhelpful in the creative process
Thinking with that logic, she fills her days and weeks with doses of happiness. Listening to songs, playing some sport, going to the gym, and watching movies. She uses does moments as detox from the daily stress.
Rayssa is going to be 21 years old when she finishes college, which she considers very young to settle down in her own ways or on what others expect from her. It’s not clear for her if traditional journalism is the path for her. She always wanted to graduate in Portuguese Language and views that second degree as a big option. She also has the desire to travel a lot and do an exchange program, maybe in the form of a master’s degree. To her, travelling is a way to understand herself better and to seize the rest of her youth, since the pandemic got a little bit in the way of that.
TALKING TO A SPECIALIST – Amanda Bianchini, psychologist
Amanda says it’s absolutely normal to feel anxious on the last years of college, and that’s because it’s the ending of a cycle and those are, in general, important moments in which you think about what you went through in that period of time. But also, when you’re ending a cycle, it means you’re starting a new one soon. In this case, it’s a very drastic change, because people finish college and normally are still young, so it means you’re now walking towards adulthood. And going in that direction automatically says more responsibilities and entering in a new world to experience. And, obviously, that messes with anxiety.
In Brazil, that puts you in a very delicate context, because young people are familiar with what’s going on in that new world to experience. Truth is: it is not particularly appealing, because the country faces social, economic, and political crises. In that logic, it means you’re going to work very hard to find good opportunities and make the most out of them.
But since non pathological anxiety is natural response of our body, if the feeling comes, Amanda recommends individual reflection so you can find out what is bothering you and what you can do about it. She also emphasizes the need to take care of our body as an interconnected network.
First of all, her recommendations are psychotherapy, because it’s a safe place to get to know how your mind works. But since we have to take care of our bodies, physical exercise is also a must. Keep in mind that it’s not recommended to practice any physical activities after 6pm because it can heighten our emotion and mess with our hormones, generating consequences for our sleep routine. Give preference to exercise with good time distance from when you go to sleep.
Amanda also explains that having a good night of sleep interferes directly with our mood. According to her, a group of scientists studied a protocol for the hygiene of sleeping and their first recommendation is to sleep only during the time that is necessary for you personally, never less and never more. In that way, you will have a regulated sleep and a routine. It’s also important to prepare the place you sleep in and use your bed exclusively for sleeping.
Eating healthy is also of high importance, says the specialist. This doesn’t mean you need a restrict diet, a balanced one is enough. You should always be aware of the nutrients your body needs and always check up on them. If possible, go to a nutritionist so you can have personalized eating routine according to your needs and preferences.
Throughout the last years of college these tips can be essential. Sometimes we might think there is no way to solve our problems, but taking a moment to think clearly is necessary. Always keep in mind that our body is an interconnect system, and we have to care for it in that way, giving the needed importance for every problem.
The article above was edited by Julia Queiroz.
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