Anxiety (n.): a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome. I have never been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, but there are definitely times when I start to feel anxious, leading to an anxiety attack. Anxious where I may eat more than usual, where I just can't leave my room and need to be alone, anxious to the point where I will lay in my bed crying that my life may not be going my way. Anxiety as a college student is real.
Why does this happen? Stressed with school, missing home, thinking way too much into my future, the list goes on. College is hard at times because we are all still trying to find ourselves and just trying to fit in. The past year and a half has been a rollercoaster for me, where my anxiety has gotten worse, with trying to fit in, adjusting to a new lifestyle, and my first time being away from home. Medication was never the answer for me to control this, so I decided to find ways to control it on my own. So how do I cope with my anxiety as a college student?
The Gym
Thank god there is something called the gym, where I can spend up to an hour just on the elliptical, lifting weights, and in my mind it is the best way to relieve stress. If you are just studying for hours and your brain is just fried, leave and go to the gym. I swear it is the best way to just let it all out.
Watch Netflix
Watching your favorite television show is the best way to relieve all the stress you are feeling. It is a great way to get a good laugh out of if you are watching a good comedy show or even a funny movie!
Have That Alone Time
Don't think it is weird or stupid to have that alone time, because having my alone time is the best way to cope with certain things. Sometimes it can be overwhelming being with so many people at once, so taking a break is the best way to just relax and think some happy thoughts.
Take a Drive
With having my car at school, sometimes I like to run errands on my own as an escape. It is good to have a mental health trip to Target or the grocery store to think about all you are feeling or if you are having a bad day and need an easy escape to be alone.
Ask a Friend to do Something
Your alone time might be a necessity, but it is also nice to be around friends. Building lifelong friendships in college is the key to being healthy and happy in the long-run, so ask a friend to get a meal, or go to the store with you. Sometimes you need that emotional support to reassure you that they will always be there no matter what.
I might keep a lot of my emotions to myself, but I have definitely learned so much about myself since being away. Don't think having anxiety as a college student is not okay, because it is normal. Forget about the past, live in the present, and don't fret about your future, because everything happens for the best.