University anxiety (A complete guide)

In this brief blog, we will be talking about university anxiety, causes of university anxiety, how to deal with university anxiety, and more information about university anxiety.

What is University anxiety?

This kind of anxiety can occur in university students when they feel the worries and fears that are arising in the midst of their academic and personal experience in the university.

As a university student, you might have experienced this kind of anxiety yourself and you should know that this kind of anxiety is not a medical term but most students have experienced this anxiety. 

There have been huge numbers of students who have experienced this kind of anxiety in UK universities.

This means that this kind of anxiety has become a constant occurrence of students in universities.

There have been studies that social anxiety disorder is prevalent in university students.

You might know this kind of anxiety disorder when you can see people who are fearful about doing performances in front of an audience and having to deal with other people as well. 

Some students have even admitted that they have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder while they are still staying in the university.

Some of these students were found to have less ideal methods in dealing with anxiety which may have worsened it and these unhealthy behaviours can be smoking and drinking.

Recent information about university anxiety

Anxiety in the university is considered to be typical in most universities.

The American College Health Association Fall 2018 National College Health Assessment has even found that 63% of college students in the country felt overburdening anxiety in the past year. 

Some of these students have been treated with a psychological intervention for their anxiety disorder that they have obtained from university.

The increase of this anxiety can occur when the student is still beginning university. 

This form of psychological distress has the tendency to grow when the student moves to the next semester.

In this case, the first years will be times where this kind of anxiety will be taking the most place in the university experience.

This kind of anxiety has been known to be triggered by several factors.

For instance, university students are more likely to engage in drinking heavy amounts of caffeine that can trigger sleep disruption which can lead to anxiety. 

There are also studies that loneliness may also trigger this kind of anxiety.

This kind of anxiety may also be triggered by academic influences that might push the student over the edge.

There have been reports that this kind of anxiety has been rising in the universities in the country.

A Sweden study has found that students in universities are having low psychological well being that might have come from the dependence on electronic communication.

This kind of communication might lead the student to not engage in physical exercise and social interaction which are factors that can promote healthy wellbeing.

Symptoms that you may have university anxiety

There are many potential symptoms of this anxiety.

You might even feel the following when you have this kind of anxiety:

• irritable
• worried
• like you cannot please yourself
• Concerned about a lot of things almost all the time

You may even begin to have the following complications:

• have sleep complications
• find it difficult to focus on important things
• bite your nails, pick your skin or grind your teeth to deal with your anxiety
• snap at people due to irritability
• feel short of breath or breathe very fast even when not engaging in anything that might count as physically exhausting

Causes of university anxiety

As mentioned before, this kind of anxiety has been growing throughout the years.

You shouldn’t feel alone that you are experiencing this kind of anxiety since most students who are attending universities are having this anxiety.

The Beyond Blue has found that this kind of anxiety is quite rampant in students who are attending universities in the country.

Studies have even found that this kind of anxiety has started when the student was just about to start his or her life at the university.

In this case, this kind of anxiety has already started from the first perception that the student is going to college where the student feels like he or she is immediately placed in the college environment without anyone taking note of his or her personal needs.

How to cope with university anxiety?

You can cope with this kind of anxiety once you can try the following below.

You should take the time in trying these different methods in coping with this kind of anxiety which can help you in the long run including your life in the university.

It doesn’t matter if you are too busy meeting impossible deadlines and other important agenda in the school but the only thing that matters is that you spend time for yourself as well.

Raise concerns early when you have this anxiety

When you are already feeling the overwhelming effects of this anxiety, you should start getting it checked immediately before it gets worse.

You should talk to a school counsellor or any authority that you can trust in getting you the help you need for your anxiety.

Access support

You need to be aware of the available support which can help you with your anxiety.

Some universities have counselling services that you can access in your spare time.

You can also access some mental health apps which can help you talk to a counsellor about your anxiety and you can use this app anytime and anywhere. 

Create a timetable and make your life organized

You shouldn’t leave things to be tended to at the last minute.

You need to make sure that you have everything covered whatever your assignments might be on that day which can help you get relaxed once you are done.

Interact with fellow students in the university

You need to make an informal network of friends who you can feel comfortable with.

You can also have these friends as your confidants once you are feeling anxious and having this socialization can make you feel less alone which can increase anxiety.

Concentrating on setting a work/life balance in university

You should have a work-life balance that you can be comfortable with.

The problem with students today is that they bring their homework at home with them.

This can deteriorate the work-life balance that you might be set when you are still checking your school emails at 11 pm which can make you lose sleep. 

Savour the successes you have in university

You should enjoy the successes you have earned in university.

This can help breathe a sense of relief that your hard work was paid off.

You should take the time to celebrate because this is crucial for your wellbeing. 

Look after yourself in your time at university

You should also get the time to look after yourself even when you are working your way in the university.

You can do this by avoiding caffeine that can make you less sleepy and lose important sleep schedules.

You should also devote your time in eating a healthy diet when you are taking meals at the university. Add these Best Fruit for Anxiety, full in vitamins and minerals. Check the Best vitamin B complex brand for anxiety and our extensive list of 10 Vitamins for Anxiety.

You can also do the following self-help tips that can help you:

• Process what it is that’s making you feel anxious. For instance, is it exams, money or relationship complications? See if you can change your situations to relieve the pressure you’re under at the university.
• Try to have a healthy lifestyle while you are having your academic life at university. Eat well, get the proper sleep, exercise frequently by searching for methods to get fit for free), minimize your alcohol intake, and take time to unwind as well as working and studying at the university. In modern times, when vaping has become a habit, many inquire about whether vaping helps with anxiety or not. If you are an alcoholic, try other non-alcoholic fermented beverages. Check our Best Kombucha for anxiety.
• In families, dealing with anxiety can be difficult, check out the best anxiety books for parents and teens.

But, If vaping is something you use to cope, try these Best Weed Pen for Anxiety.

• Try not to be concerned about the future or compare yourself with others and focus only on yourself while you are at the university.
• Try relaxation and breathing practices that can help you.
• Try to organize your time to help you take note of your work. Chunk it down into manageable chunks so you can keep up with deadlines in your schoolwork.
• Try opening up to a friend, instructor or someone in your family about your anxiety.

Mental health helplines that can help you with your university anxiety

You can also use these kinds of helplines when you are worried about another student who has this kind of anxiety or you have this anxiety.

• Anxiety UK

You can use this helpline when you are currently going through this anxiety.

You can get in touch with this helpline by calling 03444 775 774 which is available from Monday to Friday, 9.30 am to 10 pm and Saturday to Sunday, 10 am to 8 pm.

You can also check out this helpline’s website: www.anxietyuk.org.uk

• CALM

Men who are going through loneliness which may trigger this anxiety can call this helpline.

You can get in contact with this helpline at 0800 58 58 58 which is available daily from 5 pm to midnight.

You can also get in contact with them through their website: www.thecalmzone.net

• Men’s Health Forum

Men can also use this helpline when they are feeling anxious.

You can share your complications in the forum with the website on www.menshealthforum.org.uk

• Mental Health Foundation

You can also use this information tool when you are feeling this anxiety as well.

You can check out this tool’s website which is www.mentalhealth.org.uk.

• Mind

This helpline is popular in helping people with anxiety and other mental health complications.

You can call this helpline at 0300 123 3393 which is available from Monday to Friday, from 9 am to 6 pm

You can also check out this website: www.mind.org.uk for more information.

• No Panic

You can also get help from this charity if you are suffering from an anxiety disorder.

You can get some information on the website for tips to help you with your anxiety disorder.

You can call the helpline for this charity at 0844 967 4848 which is available daily, from 10 am to 10 pm.

The calls in the helpline cost 5p per minute plus your phone provider’s Access Charge in the country.

The website for this charity is www.nopanic.org.uk.

• OCD Action

You can use this charity for information that can help you with your OCD.

There are online resources that can help you with your OCD on this website.

You can call this charity at 0845 390 6232 which is available from Monday to Friday, from 9.30 am to 5 pm.

You should expect calls to cost 5p per minute plus your phone provider’s Access Charge in the country.

You can also check out this charity’s website on www.ocdaction.org.uk.

• OCD UK

You can also use this charity to ask help from people who have OCD like you.

You can get in touch with charity at 0333 212 7890 which is available from Monday to Friday, from 9 am to 5 pm.

You can also check out the website of this charity which is www.ocduk.org.

• Rethink Mental Illness for affected people

You can use this helpline to get support for your anxiety and other mental health conditions.

You can call this helpline at 0300 5000 927 which is available from Monday to Friday, from 9.30 am to 4 pm.

You can also check out the website for this helpline which is www.rethink.org

• SANE

You can get emotional support for anxiety and other mental health conditions in this helpline.

You can call this helpline at 0300 304 7000 which is available daily, from 4.30 pm to 10.3pm.

You can also send a text at www.sane.org.uk/textcare.

You can also use the forum for this helpline at www.sane.org.uk/supportforum.

You can also check out the website for more information: www.sane.org.uk/support

• Alcoholics Anonymous

You can call this helpline if you are going through alcohol addiction at 0800 917 7650 which is a 24-hour helpline.

You can also check out this website for more information about alcohol addiction on www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk

Conclusion

In this brief blog, we have talked about university anxiety, causes of university anxiety, how to deal with university anxiety, and more information about university anxiety.

If you have any questions about university anxiety, please let us know and the team will gladly answer your questions.

FAQs: university anxiety

Citations

AnxietyUK. MANAGING ANXIETY AT WORK AND UNIVERSITY.

Deakin University. How to manage anxiety at university.

Harvard Health Publishing. Anxiety in college: What we know and how to cope.

NHS. Mental health helplines.

NHS. Student stress: self-help tips.