College is a huge transitional time in any young adult’s life and it causes lots of stress. You’re forced to think about your future, leave your comfort zone, and make serious life changing decisions in such a short amount of time. You go from being considered a kid to being considered an adult and with that comes a whole new set of responsibilities.

Everyone gets stressed and anxious, but when you actually have anxiety, all of those stresses are multiplied. College is difficult for anyone but for someone with anxiety, it’s truly exhausting and seems impossible at times. I’m here to tell you that it’s okay to feel overwhelmed and that there are ways to deal with that anxiety.

I deal with anxiety, so I understand what it’s like on a firsthand basis. It’s a daily struggle. Some days are good and others aren’t, but that’s just like anything else in life. Everyone has their own set of struggles that they are forced to deal with and that doesn’t make you insignificant or a failure. It makes you human.

Sometimes I don’t feel like doing anything because I’m so overwhelmed by my anxiety. On those days, I find myself upset for absolutely no reason and I usually regret not going out or getting anything accomplished. I’ve learned over the past few years that I almost always feel better when I got out with my friends, even if it’s just a quick trip to the grocery store or a twenty minute lunch in between classes.

I’m still learning how to deal with my anxiety, but I have found that some things really do help. When I start to feel overly anxious about something and I’m in public, I take a few deep breaths and that automatically helps calm me down. I know it seems so simple, but breathing is one of the best things that you can do to stop a panic attack from happening.

I have an anti-stress coloring book and it’s amazing. It’s full of elaborate pictures and designs that take a while to color in, and I love it because it gives me something else to focus on for a little while.

Here’s the link if you want to buy one for yourself (I really recommend it!) http://www.barnesandnoble.com/p/color-therapy-cind...

Sometimes when I’m feeling really stressed, I watch Netflix or get food and take a break from my homework or whatever it is that’s stressing me out at the time. It’s okay to take a break even if it’s just for a half hour. When you have anxiety, you need to recognize when enough is enough and look out for your mental health.

Music is another huge anxiety reliever for me. I have a playlist specifically for when I start to feel anxious. I put my headphones in and blast that playlist and instead of letting those anxious thoughts get to me, I listen to the lyrics of the songs and try to focus on those, instead of my anxieties.

Anxiety is normal, everyone feels it at some point or another depending on the situation. Anxiety and excitement kind of go hand in hand. You get butterflies in your stomach and you feel super jumpy and jittery. The difference isn’t how you feel physically, it’s how you feel mentally.

Anxiety, just like any other mental illness, is almost taboo to talk about. Some people have the tendency to say things like “oh you’re faking it, anxiety isn’t real. It’s just in your head! Just stop being anxious!!” And let me be the first one to tell you, that’s not how it works at all. Mental illnesses are illnesses too, but lots of people don’t get that because they can’t physically see the effects that it has on someone.

It’s okay to admit that you have anxiety and it’s nothing to be embarrassed about. Everyone has their own set of struggles and if you just happened to be dealt the anxiety card, then there are ways to deal with it. It’s a daily thing just like anything else, but at the end of the day, there is always a solution to your current situation. You don’t have to let anxiety control your life.

College is a hard time for anyone. So if you feel your anxiety getting the best of you, there are always resources available on and off campus. Talk to a professor, your roommate, a close friend, your parents, or another family member, or seek professional help.