I’m an anxious person, and while I suffer from severe anxiety, I know I’m not the only one who deals with it. Every college student faces anxiety at one point or another in their college career. However, when it becomes a regular occurrence, it can be debilitating. Here’s my tips for dealing with anxiety in college!
Recognize what Makes You Anxious
Whether is an upcoming exam or even your roommate you need to know what triggers your anxiety. Some may only be temporary anxiety however if your anxiety is a prolonged feeling like feeling uncomfortable in a group of people it might be a long-lasting issue.
Find ways to treat your symptoms
The most important thing to do while dealing with anxiety is finding a healthy outlet. In college alcohol seems like a pretty easy way to deal with it. However, it only represses it, making your anxiety worse when you’re sober again. Taking up a sport or hobby is a great way to relive some of that tension you’re feeling. These could include a sport or even just yoga or going for a run. If you’re not the sporty type, activities like painting and coloring are creative ways to put your mind at ease and distract yourself. Whenever you’re feeling overwhelmed, turn to your outlet for release.
Eat Healthy
Eating bad foods only will add to your anxiety. Treat your body with kindness. I don’t mean you need to completely devote yourself to a perfect diet, but do be conscious with what you eat. When you’re anxious, your body will likely crave sugar, but try to resist. Brain food will keep your mind and body sharp. Try substituting an unhealthy snack with fruit, yogurt or apple slices.
Get Organized
If you frequently get stressed out by homework and activities (who doesn’t?) then you might benefit from taking the time to organize your life. Invest in a planner you’ll use and write down everything you need to get done in order of importance. Having things written out sometimes lessens the burden in your mind because you can visually see how much you still need to do. Tip: write down things you’ve already done when you create to-do lists, because you will feel more motivated and accomplished. Staying organized relives some of the stress of feeling overwhelmed from having too big of a work load.
Sleep
Getting lots of sleep majorly improves your mental state. Have trouble sleeping when anxious? Drink some herbal (caffeine free) tea at night, like chamomile. Not getting enough sleep adds to your stressed-out state of mind. Its amazing what a good night’s sleep will do!
Anxiety is the worst. But you don’t have to let it get the best of you. Being away from home and trying to start life on your own is hard. Your college most likely offers counseling and medical centers you can also seek out if you’re anxiety gets worse. Remember you’re not in this alone and be kind to yourself.