I have had anxiety since I was a kid. I know the feeling all too well. I could tell you when things start to go a bit out of control. There are some serious signs that can make it obvious wheither you are properly diagnosed or just a bit stressed.

• You are jumpy.

I get extremely jumpy. Everyone suddenly shocks me and I get a bit irritable soon after. It can be a handful, but you just have to drink some tea and work through these emotions. Your body thinks it is in danger. Quite frankly, sometimes the anxiety is so bad I start to believe I am in actual danger, but it is all in my head. In moments like these I take a few deep breaths and have a couple of laughs, whether it be by watching something funny on my funny app, or by removing myself from a stressful situation and just unwinding. I love my HBO now subscription.

• You are feeling random physical pain.

Sometimes I get horrible pain in my shoulders from the constant tension. It is pretty common. Don’t be afraid to ask someone to help you out and give a little massage. You can also get an actual massager; those are gold!

• You are frantic.

I tend to do a lot of things all at once. I will be doing laundry and preparing an elaborate meal, while still trying to write a paper. It is stressful and I end up having a meltdown. Let’s avoid that. It is great to make lists and plan ahead of time tasks to keep you busy but not overwhelmed. Even though we all have deadlines to meet you have to make a schedule that works for you. I consider my own timeline of things I need to accomplish and I try to fit everything else in accordingly. For example, if I know I have a special occasion on the weekend that will be time consuming, I will do certain work ahead of time. Everything else will have to go according to my schedule and that is okay. I think now it is important to have a social life during stressful times. I have to emphasize that because we all need human interaction. You are not a slave to your work. If you miss out on seeing people you love and care about it will be even more stressful.

• You feel out of control.

I tend to plan things a lot. I do things like that a lot less when I am depressed, but normally I micro-manage. Currently I stress about finding work after college. What helps is eliminating the stressors that would cause me to feel that way, like just standing around and doing nothing about the job hunt. If you are unsure of anything, see a career counselor on campus or look for local community programs that help with job placement. Even if you don’t find something right away, it gets things moving. It may motivate you to fix up a resume, work on a cover letter, or maybe even take placement exams. It is important to just keep moving. If you feel out of control with food or spending, I recommend taking a step back and analyzing moments you overeat or spend. You may find that sometimes it is when you are the most stressed or anxious. It is good to have a list of tasks to do. It helps to distract and create some space between the anxiety triggers.

• Restless

I can be extremely restless along with feeling frantic. The first step is to avoid caffeine. Avoid it all together, and possibly take herbal supplements first. If you are in serious need of something there is Kava Tea. It is amazing. Yogi makes a great blend. That tea works wonders at any moment of anxiety, so I highly recommend it. I think the old fashioned way of counting sheep may work, or watching something light and humorous like a sitcom also helps. Either way, you have to experiment to find what works. When I am anxious, I personally can’t read because I can’t even sit still, but it may help to concentrate on a book for a while.

I think it is extremely important to build a network of supportive people, whether they are friends, family, significant others or mental health professionals. If you have panic attacks or any kind of overwhelming anxiety often, you might want to seek professional help. If you want professional help, lots of universities may have places nearby listed or you can find a counselor on campus that can recommend you to a place outside of school. Another way to do it is looking directly from the listing through your insurance. Honestly, I recommend therapy for anyone that is going through something. They may find that it is a relief to just say whatever is on their mind aloud.