Anxiety in Students
If you are a student and dealing with anxiety, you are not alone.
In fact, 70 % of high school students deal with anxiety and 67% of college students wrestle with anxiety.
I want to make sure you know that I am not a certified counselor but I am a counselor / mentor who has been encouraging, inspiring and supporting teenage and college students for over a decade.
Each student is unique. Each one perfectly and uniquely made. There are no mistakes. You are not a mistake and the way you are made is exactly what the world needs. In fact, the world doesn’t just need the “perfect” you, it needs the “messy” you. It needs you exactly as you are today. It needs your smile, your heart, your creativity, your compassion, your attention to detail or lack of it. The world needs you, just as you are today.
Our anxiety often comes from the expectations we put on ourselves or the effort we put into fulfilling the expectations of others.
Wouldn’t it be nice if we could just put down the expectations and anxiety? It is much easier said than done. I’ve created a few really helpful resources that I’d love to share with you in hopes that they will encourage you as well.
#1. Let’s take a look at this helpful chart.
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Write down what your life looks like when each of these areas is healthy. For example:
This same chart can be used when you are struggling with anxiety. When anxiety starts to creep in, start doing these things that you know are good for you, even if you don’t feel like it. Sometimes we have to “act our way into a new way of thinking.” Sometimes, beginning to do the things we do when we are in a good place will help us reduce our anxiety and get back to that healthy place. Remember, each person’t chart will look drastically different.
This is what health looks like in my life when I’m not struggling with anxiety
Dealing with Anxiety in School
2. Another great tool I enjoy using is a color coded chart that I created for myself. Take a look:
This chart is what I use to gauge my anxiety level
This chart is a great resource for you as well. I’ll have a link at the bottom for you to download a few copies for yourself. It helps me see a realistic picture of how I am really doing. Here is how to use it:
Take a moment and think about your life. What things are present when you are doing great? These can be put in the green area. Actions, habits and thoughts that are borderline can be put in the yellow area. Actions that are present when you are struggling can be put in the red area. Each week, you can take a look and see how you are doing. Do you have more things in the red area this week than last? If so, it might be time to find someone to talk to and help you get to a healthier place. Do you have more things in the green area this week? Maybe you are in a good place and can actually lend a word of encouragement to those around you who aren’t doing so well this week.
Example of things present in a students life in an average week
How to Manage Anxiety as a Student
The habits and actions in the green help me to know I’m in a good place and my anxiety is low. Once I begin to see more of my daily actions and habits in the yellow area, I know that I’m headed to red soon and I need to be intentional about balancing out things in my life before I find myself in a situation where my anxiety is affecting my daily activities and desires.
Again, I am not a professional counselor. However, I am a mom of 4, 3 in college and 1 in high school and I’ve worked with teens everyday for over a decade. I know anxiety personally and desire to help minimize stress and anxiety in the teens and young adults I work with.
The tools above are just tools that I personally use to help me stay in a healthy place and get back to a healthy place when needed. Sometimes, I just need to give myself permission to make mistakes. It’s ok to make them, in fact, sometimes the biggest mistakes lead us to the most amazing destinations and detours that our life needs.
If you are struggling with anxiety that you can’t control, I recommend you seek help from a professional and talk to others in your life who can help you manage it. There is zero shame in seeking help. Counselors are trained in things like this and finances should never be an obstacle to getting help.
If you are on a college campus, many campuses offer free counseling. If you are in a high school, talk to a parent or a trusted teacher and ask for resources in your area. Remember, you are not alone. 70% of people your age are dealing with anxiety as well. You can always contact me and I will help you find the resources if needed.
Helpful Ideas for Managing Stress as a Student
When I am feeling a lot of stress, I find that these things always seem to help me. This list will be different for everyone but here are a few ides to help you get started thinking of ways to manage your stress.
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Exercise
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Talking to Friends
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Eating well
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Taking my vitamins
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8 hours of sleep per night
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Reducing time on social media
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Making a list of what needs to be done and prioritizing it
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Making time for self care
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Giving myself permission to make mistakes
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Journaling
Wherever you are and whatever you’re struggling with, I want to encourage you to keep moving forward. There are no mistakes. You are perfect just the way you are.
” The world needs who you were made to be.”
Joanna Gaines
Sherri Graf