Everything about your first year of college is terrifyingly exciting: from picking a roommate (or going random!), to giving out your email to way too many clubs at an activities fair and to making memories with new friends at 2 a.m. while trying to convince yourself that you won't be exhausted in your 8 a.m. class the next morning.
However, your first year of college can also be outright terrifying when you struggle with your mental health. Anxiety can run wild, depression can hit hard and self-doubt can creep in completely uninvited. I wish it ended there, but when the brain gets sick, it’s not selective or gentle – mental illness is never hesitant to rear its ugly head.
After making it through my freshman year rather unscathed, with only a few minor bumps and bruises along the way, I took time to reflect on what exactly made it such a good year and how I saw my friends succeed against the forces in their own head that were pushing them down.
Here are some tips to remember throughout your collegiate experience, from the minute you're accepted until the minute you receive your diploma:
1. Acknowledge that you worked hard to get where you are! Set reminders on your phone, write it in your journal or even shout it from the roof of the parking garage if you have to. Mental illness is not something you should take lightly and neither should the strength that it takes to persevere even when things seem bleak. You are bound to hit bumps in the road, to find yourself going the wrong way or face some major setbacks. But it’s important to remember that you have survived every single one of your bad days so what’s one more?2. Say yes to new adventures. The first few weeks are the toughest, especially when you don’t know many people in your dorm. Leave your door open! Take up offers to get dinner with floor-mates when they poke in to ask if you’d like to join them. Stay up another hour to play cards with your dorm. There’s no point in living through your college years fearing the unknown. Become comfortable in the uncomfortable.3. Remember that you’re only human. You are going to make mistakes. I know it’s always difficult to accept failure, but it’s better to remind yourself that you’re not perfect and to move on to work harder to reach your next goal. It’s more important for you to try your best than for you to succeed at every single thing you do. You’re a human becoming. Go easy on yourself. You’ll get there.
4. Be honest about how you’re feeling. I’ve found that if you’re honest with the people around you about how you’re feeling when you’re feeling it you will feel so much better. Don’t be afraid to speak up for yourself.
5. Keep your eye on the prize. You’re going to school to receive an education, which should be your number one priority. However, you’re also there to learn. I’ve found that these are two very different experiences. Your college years are a time of exponential growth so don’t limit yourself to only classes that relate to your major. Take a Greek mythology class, a self-defense class or a class on a different religion than the ones you are familiar with. Learn to see situations from different points of view.
6. Do not be afraid to get help. There is no shame in seeking professional help when you feel like you need it. Whether you're feeling buried in schoolwork, upset about a fight with friends or just lost in the constant shuffle of college, speaking to a counselor or a therapist can only make you feel better. Remember that you can’t work unless your brain does. Nourish it, keep it healthy and remember that you’re stronger than you believe you are.
