The daily life of a student can be a very stressful one that can culminate in student anxiety. Anxiety can make it difficult to get through your day, which is why it is important to manage it. Here are a few tips you can incorporate into your life to manage anxiety as a student.
Studying for exams, unexpected challenges, sudden changes and trying to master large amounts of content in small amounts of time all contribute to the stressful lives of students. The body’s natural response to all of the accumulated stress is anxiety.
We spoke to Kathy from SHAWCO to learn how to manage anxiety. We discuss what anxiety is, how we can identify anxiety and whether or not you need professional assistance for your anxiety.
Everyone experiences anxiety differently but the common symptoms include feelings of nervousness, panic and fear as well as sweating and a rapid heartbeat.
Generally, anxiety comes and goes but if you feel your anxiety is excessive and is interfering in your daily life then it is important that you seek help from a professional such as social workers, counsellors, therapists and psychologists.
Here are some tips on how to manage your anxiety:
Identify And Avoid Triggers
To learn how to manage your anxiety, you will first need to understand what triggers it in order for you to avoid it. Triggers could be crowded areas and messy environments.
Stick To A Daily Routine
Having a daily routine can make you feel organised and in control. Feeling in control can help decrease your anxiety.
Cut Down On The Coffee
Decreasing your caffeine intake can decrease the significance of the physical symptoms of anxiety.
Exercise
Regular exercise may help ease anxiety by releasing feel-good endorphins which will enhance your sense of well-being. Exercise can also improve your sleep, which is often disrupted by anxiety.
Breathing Exercises
Breathing exercises can reduce anxiety by increasing oxygen exchange, which reduces your blood pressure, slows the heart, and releases any tension held in the abdomen.
A popular breathing exercise is the 54321 breathing exercise which can help someone who is having a panic attack.
Here is how you can do the 54321 breathing exercise:
- 5 things you can see
- 4 things you can feel
- 3 things you can hear
- 2 things you can smell
- 1 thing you can taste
Watch How to Cope With Anxiety Below
If you are struggling with anxiety or know someone who is struggling with anxiety you can visit South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG). SADAG offers services and resources related to mental health.
SADAG Helplines provides free telephonic counselling, information, referrals and resources 7 days a week, 24 hours a day – call 0800 21 22 23, 0800 70 80 90 or 0800 456 789 or the Suicide Helpline 0800 567 567.
Learn more about Shawco here
