At the dusk of childhood and the dawn of adulthood, the first step an individual takes is to enter college. A lot of things go through their mind. The feeling of meeting new people, making a name for themselves, making new friends, competing and winning events, etc. But to achieve something the mind should concentrate in the right place, and one should have complete focus and that is where the mental health of a person is of utmost importance. While many cope with these recent changes easily some need help and some succumb to these and therefore suffer from stress and anxiety
Stress is any event that makes you feel frustrated or nervous whereas anxiety is a feeling of fear, worry, or unease. These both have almost identical symptoms and can have a severe impact on your mental and physical functioning. A few symptoms are as follows:
· trouble sleeping
· digestive issues
· difficulty concentrating
· muscle tension
· irritability or anger
It has been seen many times that stress can be a good motivator but when it goes unchecked, stress can raise some serious issues.
Types of Stress and Anxiety related disorders
· Generalized anxiety disorder
· Panic Disorder
· Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
· Social anxiety disorder
· Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Managing Stress and Anxiety:
Certain lifestyle changes can work wonders in managing stress and anxiety for a college student. A healthy mind bears a healthy body but they both complement each other’s working equally.
Some ways to manage stress and anxiety are:
· Meditation: Meditating daily for even 10 minutes a day can clear your mind of all the negative thoughts and can increase focus which will lead to increased productivity.
· Exercise: Working out has proved to be a game changer for people with mental issues because it releases ‘Happy Hormones’ like dopamine and endorphins.
· Getting enough sleep.
· Facing the challenge of social anxiety head-on by talking to new people.
· Opening to your friends and family about how you are feeling.
· Minimizing the consumption of alcohol and cigarettes.
· Developing new hobbies and working to get new skills to keep your
mind occupied
The biggest piece of advice or tip a person must remember is that sharing how you feel and talking about it will never make you inferior to a person who is all good and well. Opening up to someone will not make you less of a man. If these stress management tips don’t work for an individual, they should always seek out a professional to help them
Shefali Chopra
B.Tech.
