Breaking Down In College Is Normal, Trust Me | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

Breaking Down In College Is Normal, Trust Me

It's going to happen when you least expect it.

143
Breaking Down In College Is Normal, Trust Me
Kat Jayne

I have just finished my fourth week of college classes, and to say this week has been hard for me would be an understatement. The first few weeks of college were pretty good and easy for me. I felt as if I was adjusting great, and I wasn't really feeling homesick since I see someone from my family every weekend. This last week, I just felt completely done. I was done with being away from my family, and I was done being alone and on my own.

Now, I say this so you know that breaking down in college is normal. In my case, it was caused by my anxiety, stress, and good old mother nature (and all the girls groan). It was mainly just Tuesday and Wednesday, but I honestly felt like it set the tone for the entire week. I can't even tell you what exactly happened because much of it is a blur. What I do know is that I cried more in those two days than I have in the last six months (that's a lot of crying). I would be just walking to and from class, and I would feel the strong urge to just breakdown there. I had to hold my breath almost the entire walk back to my dorm in order to not have a full-blown panic attack in front of everyone around me. Those two days, I called my grandmother, for I knew my mom was at work, to have someone to talk to and walk me through it. My mom is usually my go-to when I'm feeling super anxious because she always knows just what to say for me to calm down. Being 150 miles away from her hit me like a truck in those moments. When I was busy with classes, homework, or other activities, it was easy to not focus on how I truly am away from my family and on my own.

With the combination of stress from my classes and being so far away from my mom, I just had a meltdown and didn't know how to assess my feelings. By calling my grandma and talking things out, I ended up going to her house later Wednesday evening after my classes were finished. It's easier for me to visit her than go home because she only lives 30 minutes from campus. Simply by removing myself from my dorm and campus, I was able to finish a paper for one of my classes (where all my stress was coming from).

Removing yourself from the environment that is giving you stress and anxiety, even if it's only for a little bit, can shift your whole mood. While I was only away for a couple of hours, the rest of my week went without me feeling like crying at random times for no reason during the day. Many of my friends have experienced the same feelings in the last week or two, also. College is a new experience for everyone, so don't feel like you are all alone when you are feeling down.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
coffee

It's finally flu season! It's around that time in the school year where everyone on campus is getting sick, especially if they live in the dorms. It's hard to take care of yourself while being sick at school, but here are some coping mechanisms to get you on the path to feeling better!

Keep Reading...Show less
Health and Wellness

The Battle Between College And My Mental Health

College isn't easy, and I'm afraid I'm not going to make it at the rate my mental health is going.

749
woman sitting on black chair in front of glass-panel window with white curtains
Photo by Anthony Tran on Unsplash

Everyone tells you that college is hard, but they fail to explain why. Sure, classes are hard. Math sucks, and political science can be so boring. But that's not even what's killing me about college. What's killing me about college is my deterioating mental health.

As a college student, I feel as if people don't understand just how exhausted I, and fellow college students are. We have so many things going on, all the time, and sometimes it's hard to explain to people how we feel. Personally...I'm tired. I'm sad. And I'm struggling every single day with my emotions. But the thing is, it hasn't always been this way. I haven't always hated school, so why am I feeling like this now?

Keep Reading...Show less
manager

For the average 20-something, life moves pretty fast. You’ve got classes, friends, relationships, jobs, family, and whatever else we overcommit ourselves with. I probably should have learned to say no to adding more to my schedule a long time ago, but instead here are 11 things that can be more helpful than coffee.

Keep Reading...Show less
Parks And Rec
NBC

Your professor mentions there's a test in a few days and you didn't know about it.

Keep Reading...Show less
Blair Waldorf

Resting b***h face. Defined as a person, usually a girl, who naturally looks mean when her face is expressionless, without meaning to. Many of you suffer from this "condition." You are commonly asked what's wrong, when nothing is. What people don't know is that is just your facial expression. Here are some things they wish you knew.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments