Ever since I began my junior year, I always seemed to take on more than I can chew. I worked at my campus library, took five classes and worked as an Opinions Editor for my campus newspaper. The first semester, everything seemed to work out just fine. However, the first few weeks of spring 2015, it seemed like everything began to crash, as I felt like I was being pulled in 2,000 different directions. I was crashing, faster than a computer with a virus.
After a semester in therapy, I set out to make this past fall semester better than the spring. After all, I had left my campus newspaper to begin working as a reporter for a local paper and was in control of my life by taking fewer classes than ever before. But, I was quickly proven wrong. I was taking intense classes that demanded more of my time, I worked both weekend days and I had deadline after deadline that got overwhelmed. Once again, I began to spiral. After a tearful phone call to a close friend, I knew I had to go back to therapy.
Once I sat back in the therapist’s chair, I was diagnosed with anxiety due to environmental and perhaps even chemical factors. Hearing that diagnosis stopped me dead in the tracks. I knew I needed to take care of myself, because my mental health was clearly failing due to the many things I have going on.
It’s safe to say my anxiety is caused by some of the many things that I have going on in my life. In a world that’s more achievement based rather than self-care based, it’s more important to be at the top of your game rather than saying no to an opportunity. However, millennial, don’t be fooled. As important as it is to ensure you try to get internships and experience, it’s all important to make sure you add something else to the schedule—taking care of you.
Having anxiety really taught me to slow down and realize the importance of taking care of myself. It may mean passing up an internship or a third job, which is understandable. Since the semester ended, I’ve noticed a huge improvement in my mental health, as I’m not as overwhelmed. But, having two semesters left, I know that I need to focus on getting through them the best of my ability and with mental health in tact.
Since being diagnosed, I learned to take it day by day. Some days are great. Other days can be rocky. I’ve learned that I don’t need to be at the top of my game, but I do need to make sure that I am the happiest and mentally healthy that I can be. And, in my opinion, being mentally sound is the best success I can ever have.
