Anxiety

For students, some levels of worry or stress are normal and even helpful. You have exams, deadlines, and clashing commitments that you need to be alert for and ready to perform. But when these feelings get more intense and hang around when they’re not needed or helpful, it can move toward anxiety.

What is anxiety?

Anxiety occurs when our minds perceive a threat to our physical or psychological wellbeing. Blood, hormones and adrenaline pump through our body getting it ready to fight or flee. An exam will not kill us; sometimes it just feels that way to our minds!

Some signs of anxiety might include:

• excessive worry
• negative thoughts
• avoiding situations
• shaking
• pain in the chest
• difficulty breathing
• difficulty concentrating
• lightheadedness
• a sense that panic is overwhelming.

Find out more about anxiety and anxiety disorders at Youth Beyond Blue.

What you can do

• Learn to breathe slowly and deeply, this reduces the physical symptoms of anxiety
• Doing exercise helps reduce the instances of anxiety and panic
• Avoid stimulants like caffeine as it can increase heart rate, which is one symptom of anxiety
• Relaxing the body reduces the physical symptoms of anxiety so have a massage, a hot bath, garden, listening to music or a relaxation podcast. Download it below.

Apps that help

• Practice slowing down your thoughts through mindfulness with Smiling Mind and Headspace
• Let go of anxious thoughts with the ACT Companion

Community support

• Talk to someone online about your anxiety at eHeadspace
• Find a Support group where you live at Anxiety Disorder Association of Victoria