Panicking, crying, the overwhelming fear that you will not be able to do this. Do all these sound familiar? These are just some of the feelings I got when I first started at Rosemont College.
When I first got to school, I felt like I was alone and that no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t get out of the anxiety-filled black hole I fell into. The more that I thought about it, the worse the feeling got, and more anxiety came. I was so stressed out, and right as all the anxiety was going on, classes started. I was stuck in a world where I couldn’t manage myself nor my classes that were nothing like I had ever experienced before. I started to use the classwork to distract myself from the anxiety. To be honest, it was not a good coping mechanism and it only made the anxiety attacks worse. The only thing that helped those first couple days was crying to my mom and telling her that I wanted to go home. That I couldn’t do this and it would be better for me to commute from home. It was near the end of my first week that I found myself and was able to get over my anxiety. I found, and used five great ways to get over my first week anxiety.
1. Find a good group of friends
One of the best things that I did was find a great group of friends that were there for me. This group of friends are the ones that are going to be there for you when you are having an anxiety moment, they will be the ones that give you a shoulder to cry on, and they are the ones that are going to make you laugh and feel better.
2. Call family members if you need to talk
I know that people say that you should wait a little before you call, but it is okay to call them. They are going to be there for you and offer you the best advice and comfort. I called my family a good deal my first week and they gave me the best advice and helped me get through a lot. They are always going to be there for you and if you need them, don’t be afraid to reach out.
3. Breath and think about the situation in another way
This one might seem a little tricky but it really does work. The more that you look at something with eyes that are still in a panic, it is only going to get worse. The best thing that you can do it take a deep breath and look at it again. The situation might not be as bad as it seems.
4. Talk to someone on campus about what is going on
Know that you are not going through this alone. There are tons of people all around you that have been in this situation before and will be willing to help. There are also professionals on campus that are there to help. They can provide tips and advice on how to beat bad anxiety and they are a good person to talk to when you think no one else will.
5. Smile and think positive
The number one thing that I can say is to smile and think positive. It might seem bad now, but it will pass. Being at a new school and a new place can be scary but if you think about all the fun things you get to do and that you are apart of something bigger and better, the anxiety that you are feeling will no longer get to you.
Anxiety is something that happens when you come to new place. It is a new environment and you are scared that you are going through it alone. Knowing that you are not the only one and getting involved are some of the many things around campus can help you overcome this. Keep positive and the rest will fall into place.
