- Tip #1: Don’t let your anxiety control you into doing something you don’t want to do. You are capable of so much more than you give yourself credit for.
- I chose my first college based on my best friend’s choice - mainly I didn’t want to be left alone all by myself because I didn’t think I was capable of being somewhere on my own with no one else I knew. However, now I have regrets over this decision, as I didn’t want to even go to the college she chose.
- Tip #2: Self-exposure works wonders in alleviating anxiety.
- I
started to force myself to go out to public places by myself – typically locations
where you don’t have to talk to other people – such as coffee shops to study,
movie theaters and libraries. I got to be around people and just watch them go
about their daily lives, and the more I went out and quit worrying about every
one judging me, the less nerve-wracking it became. Future note: People aren't judging you as much as you think they are. Once you master this it gets
easier to do other activities that involve more communication with others.
- Tip #3: Don’t coop up in your home for days on end because it will only make leaving, once it’s time, harder and more stressful.
- As
an introvert, I recharge by being alone, but I can say from experience, don’t
hide out in your home even if you feel like it. Human interaction is very important
for everyone, including introverts.
- Tip #4: The sayings ‘Practice makes perfect’ and ‘Fake it until you make it’ have a lot of truth behind them.
- I
know a big fear of most people is public speaking. I put off this class requirement
in college until my last year because of stage fright. Even in high school, I
would skip out on speeches and receive an ‘F’ just because I was too scared of
being judged. However, the more I prepared for a speech the less nervous I was
when it came time to present it, and to relay back to my previous thought about
self-exposure, the more I presented the easier it got to where I almost like
oral presentations now.
- Once I finally took Public
Speaking in college, I was of course nervous but applying the ‘fake it until
you make it’ mindset into place, I was able to seem like I was confident to
where I began fooling myself into thinking I was indeed actually ready and
capable, which ended in significantly reducing my nerves.
- Tip #5: It’s okay to go to a psychiatrist and have a prescription to help in calming your anxiety.
- It
doesn’t make you less of a person because you are taking anti-anxiety drugs.
Personally, they’ve helped me tremendously. They’ve given me a little boost of
confidence to loosen up and relax.
- Tip #6: Don’t do something you know you hate and doesn’t give you any pleasure just because you feel pressured into doing it. You shouldn't let your anxiety cripple you into not speaking your mind.
- Whether
this be a party you feel forced into attending or a college degree you feel
that is being chosen for you, despite your feelings about it. I’ve gone to my
fair share of parties, including ones I felt were forced upon me, where I made
mistakes that I still regret. Forget peer-pressure; do what you feel
comfortable doing. (*
I feel as if I should add this note in: if you are
taking anti-anxiety medications, it is very important you watch how much you
drink because it’s a lot easier to wake up the next day and not remember a
single thing.
*)
- As for my college experience,
I first started off in nursing – a field I had remotely no interest in
whatsoever – but my family and friends seemed to sort of passively pressure me
into doing due to its high job market and decent salaries. During this time, I was
at an all-time low, and my anxiety and depression were so bad I was not
motivated to study or even attend classes to where I eventually ended up
failing nursing school. However, I think of it as a blessing in disguise
because I am now in in a field I truly enjoy and feel like matters to me.
- Tip #7: Don’t give up.
- I blamed my anxiety for the reason at the age of 21 I still did not have a job. I forced myself to keep applying to numerous places and go to several job interviews, and after each rejection, I tried to not let it damper my spirits. After a while, I got lucky and applied to Panera Bread just as they were getting ready to open and I landed the job. As a side note, the job has helped wonders with my anxiety. I have around 80 other coworkers to socialize and form relationships with, and as a cashier, I get to practice communicating with the customers. It’s a tremendous opportunity that has continuously thrown obstacles at me and forced me to come out of my shell. And as far as first jobs go, it’s been an amazing adventure all on its own.
- Tip #8: Join groups. They help you form bonds and friendships.
- It took me until my fourth year of college to realize the importance of this. I’ve started opening up and trying to get more involved – my social groups evolved from just having my community college soccer friends to also including my Panera coworkers, the Public Relations Student Society of America to the most recent one I hope to get more involved with being the Odyssey’s Southern Miss.
- Tip #9: Don’t bottle everything up until you combust.
- I’ve
had my fair share of panic attacks where I’ve said things I never meant to say
a loud – at least not under those intense circumstances. It’s important you
have someone to talk with – maybe not to reveal all your deepest darkest
secrets – but someone who can help coax you through difficult times. If not
that, journaling your thoughts can be helpful to a certain extent.
- Tip #10: Find ‘me-time’ for yourself.
- Finding
some time out of your day to do something relaxing like meditating, reading, or
going for a run can help in calming your nerves. It might not be something you
notice after say a few days, but there’s no denying its importance in the long
run.
- Tip #11: Test yourself to see how far you’ve come. Push your limits.
- As someone who craves being alone but also hates being alone (mostly from my family), I’ve decided to push my own limits. In May 2017, I’m flying to India all by myself to spend 40 days with a group called Operation Groundswell which will include a small group of random people to accompany me. The experience is bound to be life-changing in many ways. Your way of testing yourself doesn’t have to be so massive – just anything to put you out of your comfort zone.
- Tip #12: Everything’s gonna be alright!
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
