{"id":7093,"date":"2017-07-19T16:11:43","date_gmt":"2017-07-19T16:11:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.optimumperformanceinstitute.com\/?page_id=7093"},"modified":"2017-10-13T12:02:16","modified_gmt":"2017-10-13T18:02:16","slug":"success-school-despite-anxiety","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.optimumperformanceinstitute.com\/success-school-despite-anxiety\/","title":{"rendered":"Success in school despite the anxiety"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Success in school despite the anxiety<\/h3>\n

\"email-5\"<\/p>\n

College is a tough and stressful time for most everyone, so I can\u2019t imagine how it would feel with the anxiety you\u2019re experiencing. You finally get yourself to get out of bed and walk to campus, only to be overcome with anxiety just outside your classroom door. So you go back home.<\/p>\n

The anxiety will compound on itself. You were too anxious to go to class, so you skipped it. Then you got more anxious because now you\u2019re behind in class. So you miss more classes. Your grades suffer. And you\u2019re even more anxious.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s no way to live. But you\u2019re not alone. About 50% of individuals with borderline will suffer from panic attacks, and school is a major trigger.<\/p>\n

Chances are that if you have amplified anxiety around school, then school is also very important to you and you want to be successful. Here are some simple tips to help with anxiety in school:<\/p>\n

For example:<\/p>\n

Sept. 14th: SFL 330 Unit 1 exam
\nSept. 17th: HUM 301 Research Paper Draft #1 Due
\nSept. 17th: Span 450 Verbal Exam
\nSept. 21st: Psych 336 Debate<\/p>\n

Put this list at the front of your school binder or anywhere you can reference it quickly and frequently. \u00a0It will tell you at a glance what you have coming up, and what you don\u2019t have to stress about just yet. \u00a0When you finish the assignment, cross it off the list! \u00a0Crossing off a list item, I am certain, is the best part of any day for a person with anxiety. \u00a0(Pro tip: If you make class specific lists in addition to the master list, you get to cross off the master list items twice!)<\/p>\n

If you need additional help managing, it may be helpful to know that anxiety disorders are covered under the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). You\u2019re likely eligible for an accommodation that will make it easier for you to be successful at school. You can go to the school\u2019s disability service office for more information and to learn what documentation you\u2019ll need (like a doctor\u2019s note).<\/p>\n

Common accommodations that could be helpful in managing anxiety around school include extended exam times, different exam locations (for example, in your professor\u2019s office instead of the school\u2019s testing center), and permission to audio record lectures (so that you can focus on notes and participation in class, and listen to the recording again later).<\/p>\n

You may need professional help, and there\u2019s no shame in that. A mental health therapist can help you identify where your anxiety stems from, and steps you can take to overcome it. You can also talk to a medical doctor or psychiatrist about medications that may be helpful for you. There are many ways to treat anxiety, and you\u2019ll probably need to try out a few different methods before you find the one that works for you. It could be a long and arduous journey, but it will be worth it.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnxiety is nothing but repeatedly re-experiencing failure in advance. What a waste.\u201d \u2014 Seth Godin\u201d<\/h4>\n