College can be a stressful time for all, and while I think that’s a healthy thing as we need to experience some stress apart from our guardians, it can be harder on those who have a mental illness. First of all, I want to say to those who have such, you are not a burden or less of a person because you have a particular struggle. Everyone in this world has things he or she wrestles with more than other things, but that doesn’t make that person lower than other people; he or she just has to actively work towards better him or herself in that area. The same goes for those with mental illness. Sure life will present more challenges than it does others, but that shouldn’t reflect on that person’s value to society. Unfortunately (also fortunately in some ways) I have had the “pleasure” of having to deal with anxiety and depression with an eating disorder developing later on in life. During my time in college, I’ve discovered that while it will be more difficult for others at times, it definitely is possible as long as you make yourself a priority. That being said here are a few things that will help you survive college with a mental illness.

1. Always make sure to eat, no matter what’s going on.

We all know the pressure of cramming for midterm or final exams, but skipping a meal doesn’t help the situation by any means. Whether or not you have an eating disorder, it doesn’t matter. Not eating properly always puts me in a worse mood than when I’m eating. It doesn’t even have to be the healthiest of meals (not that I’m condoning eating junk!), but as long as you’re making sure you’re eating something on a regular basis, it’ll greatly help.

2. Never stay up late just to finish an assignment.

It’s true that college students don’t get enough sleep as a whole, and while you may be tempted to stay up the rest of the night and finish that tricky assignment, it’s not worth it. I’ve learned over my two years that it’s better for me to find a good stopping point and get up earlier the next morning rather than to stay up late to finish something. Not only does this encourage getting up at a decent hour of the day, but it also helps form a sleeping schedule. I can always tell that when I’m at my worst, I need sleep, so forming a set sleeping schedule right off is essential.

3. Never, ever, ever skip out on self-care, especially for school work.

School work is incredibly important, but at the end of the day, you’re not going to be able to effectively do your school work if you’re not mentally healthy. That doesn’t mean that you have to take copious amounts of time to binge watch your favorite show on Netflix, but don’t overload yourself so much that you forget how to relax and escape the world into your own quiet abyss.