Coping with Anxiety at University

Coping with anxiety at university is a common experience. But you’re not alone, and there are some simple things you can do to start feeling better right away.

It often happens that under the pressure of deadlines, international students, who already have a lot to deal with, are overtaken by anxiety and despair. I recently came across a student who missed one of his assignments and was so depressed that he had to acquire services of a student counselor who talked him through that phase.

The challenges he faced were the same that we all initially face when we study abroad. He had to adjust to a different culture, deal with an entirely new teaching methodology, overcome the language barrier, manage his time, and of course, nurture hopes of securing a distinction. Believe it or not, all these issues are interlinked and disturbance in just one can affect the harmony of your entire life.

Based on my conversation with him after he got out of that gloomy phase, here are some tips that can help when coping with anxiety at university.

Identify the problem

If, for any reason, you are unable to focus or are regularly having thoughts that distract you from studies, try to find out what is going wrong. Easier said than done, but this can still be accomplished if you analyze your daily schedule. Remember we talked about making a study timetable? See if you are following it, and if not, ask yourself why? What’s getting in the way?

Stop procrastinating

Procrastination is the most common problem that even brilliant students encounter. The key to success here is to identify what you are doing to procrastinate – and then avoid doing it. Your pen and paper can guide you here as well. Write down all your priorities in order of importance. Do you want to read a chapter for your essay first, or comment on your friend’s Facebook picture? In other words, do you really want to stop procrastinating? Remember, the choice is yours!

Talk to a friend

Venting your frustrations or talking about your fears really helps. Talk to a friend who can provide you a ‘helping ear’. Don’t be afraid to ask – this is what friends are for! Share your feelings with him/her, and you’ll soon find it feels as if you’re already halfway to resolving the problem. And of course, make sure to be there for your friends too when they need the ‘helping ear’.

Use a student counselor

There is nothing to be ashamed about in consulting a professional counselor, when you need some extra help in coping with anxiety. Almost all universities will have a student counselor service, designed specifically for such situations. So do make sure you make the most of all the support available.

Finally, remember that staying determined and focused on your academic goals is the number one priority to keep sight of. The rest will eventually fall into place, and the dots will automatically connect when you look back.

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