Are you a college student dealing with anxiety?
If so, you are not alone. A recent new study found that students are feeling more stressed than they did in the last decade.
Symptoms ranged from schoolwork difficulties to changes in diet, energy levels and sleep patterns.
Why are our children having such a hard time? Mental health counselor and anxiety treatment expert Justin Carino says it’s more than just a pandemic.
There is a lot of anticipatory anxiety about what academic expectations will look like.
Carino says start by practicing mindfulness.
“One of my favorite skills to teach is the rainbow room. , name an orange.Hopefully by the end of the exercise, you’ll be a little more present in yourself,” says Carino.
Next, learn how to challenge your way of thinking. Ask yourself — is this idea true? Does this idea help?
Another tip is to name your heart.
“I tell people to literally name the insecure part of their mind. To remember someone or something you don’t like very much, right? We want people to feel comfortable and to report their concerns,” says Carino.
Tip 4 is to create a mental health routine that you can stick to. For some, that might mean waking up early for a morning run.
A final tip is to set boundaries between people and time.