There’s no doubt that school alone can be stressful as hell. That piled on with all the other crazy stuff going on in our college lives? It’s amazing that we all function as well as we do. However, everyone has moments where all that shit that’s piled up just spills over, and it gets overwhelming. If you find yourself in the midst of an anxiety attack or just getting too lost in your head, here are some tips to calm yourself down.
- Use Your Senses: I was given this advice a while back, and I’ve tried to share it with as many people as possible. We tend to worry too much about the future and what MIGHT happen instead of focusing on the here and now. So, bring yourself back to the present. Name five things you can see, four things you can feel, three things you can hear, two things you can smell, and one thing you can taste. Get super detailed when describing these things, and try to do it as many times as possible. Keep reminding yourself that you are HERE, and not months in the future.
- It’s Not You: This may come off as a weird idea, but it’s helped me a lot. Imagine your anxiety and stress as a separate entity, like a little dude that’s handcuffed to you or something. When it starts acting up, tell it to chill out and that it’s being ridiculous and blowing things out of proportion. Don’t take it seriously, and just ignore it if it keeps pestering you. Grab it by the scruff and tell it, “not now, I’ll deal with you later,” and focus on other tasks that are important in that moment.
- Reach Out: Oxford is an absolutely incredible place. I had an episode a while back, and I asked the group message for my hall for some tissues. Moments later, a complete stranger walks in, and she takes me to her room. We’re watching dog videos, and she’s making me tea and telling me how everything will be okay and that she’s been there before. Throughout the day, I was continuously checked on by people I barely knew in my hall, and they all insisted on giving me hugs or making me tea. Knowing that I can reach out and get help from someone, even if I’m disgustingly covered in my own snot and tears, is so amazing to me. I haven’t met a remotely unkind soul on campus, and I can confidently say that someone else in any other dorm would have this same experience. There’s a lot of bad in the world, but there’s also a whole lot of good.
If things get too heavy, the student health services are more than capable of taking care of you during an attack, and they also will have many tips and pamphlets on how to notice one coming on and how to prevent it. Just remember that you’re not alone, and that most people have experienced or know someone who has experienced what you’re going through. We’re all one giant Oxford family, and we all want each other to succeed; we’re in this together.