Adjusting to a new environment can be scary, and the adjustment to college isn’t talked about nearly enough. To throw yourself into a situation involving entirely new people and an entirely new setting is tricky. I have dealt with this feeling myself; I’ve tried countless different approaches to combat my anxiety, but here are my four favorites:
1. journal
I know it may not seem like the most intuitive response to anxiety, especially for those with social anxiety who may wish they were more talkative or more involved. However, I’ve found that journaling is the most therapeutic form of expression for me. Getting my thoughts down on paper, no matter what that may look like, helps me better dissect my feelings.
Journaling can prevent you from word vomiting and from keeping all your thoughts bottled up inside, and it can be easier to make sense of them once they’re all laid out. You can also use journaling as a way to come up with goals and solutions to problems. I love looking back at my journal entries and seeing how much progress I’ve made; crossing off the goals that I’ve achieved, no matter how minimal they may seem, is an amazing feeling.
2. Take a risk
Sometimes, anxiety can feel like a barrier to completing normal tasks and having normal relationships. I’ve felt burdened by my anxiety countless times, but I have found that pushing myself to do something even just a little bit out of my comfort zone can bring about great results. Some of the best friendships I’ve made have come from risks I’ve taken, whether I texted first or started a conversation in heavy elevator silence.
Similarly, some of my fondest memories from college so far wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t pushed myself a little bit. This isn’t to say that you can only have fun if you’re forcing yourself to do something that will make you uncomfortable, because that is not the case. Instead, I suggest you remind yourself that not everybody cares about your actions in the negative way you think they might. It’s unlikely that anyone is going to judge you for taking a risk; in fact, it’s unlikely that anyone is going to even notice how hard it may have been for you in the first place.
When you let those little nagging thoughts in your head escape for just a moment and you take small risks, you’re going to see results. Remember, there’s no better time to start putting yourself out there than during the first semester of the school year!
3. get involved
As someone who has struggled my entire life with social anxiety and speaking in front of new people, I have seen a huge improvement in my communication abilities within the last few years, and I owe it all to my involvement in the community. This can take on many forms. For me, it meant getting a job that would force me to face my fear of speaking to strangers. I became a waitress, and although it was nerve-wracking at first, by the time I got into the swing of things, I was no longer afraid of approaching tables or asking people how their days had been going.
It may feel counterintuitive to get involved in something that centers around the entire thing that gives you anxiety, but the results may be shocking. Joining a club or picking up a sport are both great ways to get involved in the community, and the friendships and life skills that result from it may be lifelong.
4. Take a self care day
When the stresses of the world start to become a burden, sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself is to take a step back from everything and prioritize yourself. Especially after putting yourself out there and going out of your comfort zone, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. It’s important to make time for yourself, whether that means staying in when you really don’t feel like going out or allowing yourself a whole mental health day.
I’ve found that when I’m the most stressed, I forget to take care of myself. A day dedicated to staying in, listening to my favorite music, taking a long shower and not worrying about schoolwork or social interactions is always a good reset, and I don’t think we allow ourselves to have enough of these days.