School. A place of learning, extracurricular activities, and anxiety. No matter where you look, or what you do. anxiety is part of life. “I can’t escape it. It’s like it follows me around, taunting my every move,” Freshman Peyton Clark said.

The feeling of your heart pounding, your body trembling, raked with sweat and a throbbing headache, you’re scared and don’t know what to do. That’s anxiety, and you can have anxiety over pretty much anything. Anxiety over whether you’ll pass that Biology test next Wednesday or not. If you’ll have that English project completed on time. Freaking out over not wanting to be called on during math. Or just plain anxiety, over random things that nobody quiet understands. Anxiety is a common. While anxiety can’t be completely erased, there are ways to help you cope with it.

Tips:

• Find a hobby, something simple and relaxing. Such as drawing, coloring, writing, taking long walks, or anything that calms you down. It helps reduce your stress levels.
• If you’re anxious over the amount of work you need to have completed by a certain time, make a checklist, it’s really satisfying to cross something off of a long list of things to do. Something you can do with this checklist is number them in the order that you will do them based on how much work it is, and when it’s due.
• Take a deep breath, and count to 10, as many times as you need. Focus on nothing else.
• Tell someone you trust that you need a listening ear, and if you don’t want their opinion, tell them that. They should understand.
• Don’t be afraid to talk to your teachers, it could help immensely.
• The school counselors are always looking for ways to make your life less stressful, go talk to your school counselor. They can be that listening ear that you need, or the advice you need, or they can help make a plan on how to reduce your anxiety, even if just slightly.
• Don’t forget to make time for yourself.

Anxiety Hotlines:

• Text CONNECT to 741741
• SAMHSA’s National Helpline – 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
• Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) – 1-240-485-1001

Professional Anxiety Sources for help:

• https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline
• https://www.crisistextline.org/anxiety
• https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/how-to-cope-with-anxiety
• https://www.helpguide.org/articles/anxiety/anxiety-disorders-and-anxiety-attacks.htm
• https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/anxiety-and-panic-attacks/self-care-for-anxiety/#.Xfuw8uhKiUk