Student Anxiety: Tips for coping with social anxiety at university

Cem Topcamon 11 January 2019
Person sat in the corner of an empty room.

Anxiety is something that affects most of us at some point. Here are some handy tips to help you out next time you find yourself struggling.

To a greater or lesser extent, we all feel anxious from time to time. The feeling of worry we get where we aren't feeling confident about how something's going. These moments can spiral out of control, leading to panic attacks. This feels like you're trapped and can even impact your sleep and physical health.

Uni life is often chaotic, and this can make you anxious as hell. Being homesick, exam stress, or loneliness can all put a black cloud above your head. But student anxiety can be stopped in its tracks by acting before the cloud forms.

Know your triggers

Understanding what triggers your anxiety is the key to knowing when you need to kick your coping mechanisms into gear. If you're an anxious person, it’s very likely you have felt other forms of it before starting uni. If you can, try and figure out what's set you off in the past. This way, you'll spot when it'll happen again in the future and act faster.

Woman screaming.

Clear space, clear mind

As a student, you’re likely to be living in a whole new space you’re not used to. The move alone can make your mental state worse. Not to mention the shit-ton of paperwork, notes, bits and bobs that are part of student life.

Having a clear space can really take the edge off. Try keeping your desk as tidy as possible, and your thoughts will be able to breathe while you work. You could always try changing up your workspace when things feel stale.

A nicely organised desk.

Take a breath

Breathing sounds easy enough, right? It’s something we all do without thinking about it. But when we do think about it, we focus on the rhythm of our breathing and being present in the moment. This is a simple form of mindfulness.

There are a tonne of resources at your fingertips. Apps like Headspace, Calm and the imaginatively named Mindfulness App are all free. They've got loads of hints, tips and meditation techniques you can bring into your routine when things begin to feel a little too much.

A neon sign of the word breathe.

Reach out

It’s important to remember just how normal it is to feel anxious, especially as a student. When you’re thinking a thousand thoughts at once, it’s easy to work yourself up into a panic.

Before that happens, try reaching out to someone you trust. Chances are they’ve felt similar things, and speaking about it can be good for both of you. A problem shared is a problem halved, as they say, and social anxiety at uni is no different.

Three friends sitting outside facing away from the camera.

What do you do to cope with social anxiety? Join the Student Hut Community for access to exclusive tips, tricks and paid surveys. You'll get 1000 reward points for signing up.

Cem Topcamon 11 January 2019