It starts in your stomach, turning and twisting, and works its way to you limbs. It feels like a weight is pulling you down, like an invisible rope is being pulled around your throat, making you struggle for every breath. Your face becomes flames, radiating heat while it turns the color of sunburn. With quivering fingers your mind speeds at an incomprehensible pace. It feels like your five senses have melted into a boiling pot of uncertainty. The world continues to move around you while you are frozen in a time of what feels like never ending torture.
These unpleasant feelings are the harsh realities of something that college students frequently suffer from: anxiety. Whether it’s from schoolwork or just thinking about the future, at one time or another, we have all felt anxious. Everybody experiences anxiety in a different way. Sometimes it comes in waves, and sometimes it is a constant feeling gnawing away at your insides. It causes me to bite my lip until I taste blood, and to pull the skin off my cuticles until there is nothing left. Sometimes we are left unable to sleep at night, wide awake with "what ifs" flooding our already crowded head.
Experiencing and handling anxiety is unique to each person. However, there is one thing college anxiety sufferers having in common, we are not alone! Whether or not they are willing to share, someone close to you is has most likely felt the familiar panic that comes with having anxiety. Many of us also face the challenges of social anxiety which becomes difficult when placed in social situations or trying to make new friends.
Just because having anxiety is common does not mean it is easy to manage. Anxiety can typically go hand in hand with other mental diseases, such as depression. It can also cause people to become self destructive to their own bodies in hopes of feeling better. It is a very dark and dangerous road that can be hard to recover from. No one should have to go through feeling that way alone.
While anxiety might not ever be fully cured, there are plenty of ways to help dull the physical and emotional pain. Anxiety medications may not be for everyone, and sometimes can be expensive, but if you can access a psychiatrist, you can discuss options for ways to safely medicate. Over time, medication can decrease general anxiety, but may not fully cure.
Meditation is also a short-term reliever for anxiety. Meditation can be difficult and requires practice until it feels right. If done correctly though, meditation can create a serene and calm setting to help alleviate anxiety. There are also many different breathing exercises to help slow down a racing heart. Sometimes talking to someone about your anxiety can help relieve it, especially knowing that you are not alone. Try talking to a trusting friend, a family member or a therapist. Temple has great resources to offer in the Wellness Resource Center for students dealing with anxiety and all different types of emotional stress.
Coming up with a mantra is a great way to become present again in cases of panic attacks. Repeat to yourself “It will go away” or “I am okay,” is a small action that has big benefits. Mantras are used bring the mind and body back to center and can end a sudden anxiety attack. Try closing your eyes and saying it in time with you breathing. It will help remove you form the stressful situation so you can have some time to clear your head.
When suffering from anxiety, it can feel like you are the only one in the world who has these issues. It is important to remember that anxiety is extremely common, and that you should never keep your anxious feelings bottled up inside. College is a time of change and difference for everyone, you are not defined by your anxiety, learn how to cope and find peace within yourself, we will get through this.
