Recurring Anxiety Issues

[Mustang43]

Hello. I am 19 years old. I've been having these recurring episodes of anxiety since I was 11. I'm usually occupied with worry over something that is completely nonsensical, that I know I shouldn't be worrying about or focusing on, and I can never seem to shake it. The episodes are usually several weeks to a month or so long, and they are usually months or years apart. I've only had 4 or 5 of these episodes. The anxiety seems to kick in around a time I'm under stress. I'll be stressed out over exams, trouble with friends, something scary happening, and all of a sudden, I'll be preoccupied over something completely silly. After a while, the anxiety tends to fade on its own, but I'm just tired of feeling this way. I usually get a lot less sleep during these periods, and I can't afford that now, because I'm in college and need sleep to function properly. All of that aside, I just feel like a prisoner to my own anxiety during these periods, and it's scary. Should I go see a counselor at my school? Are there any effective strategies that I can use to alleviate or even rid myself of this anxiety?

[TAPNewEngland]

Schools provide free counseling services and take advantage of them via your Dean of Students office.

[Gettingthere231]

Try to put your stress into perspective. If you dont do well on a test, what is the worst that will happen? Probably nothing that you could not repair. Sure school is very important and serious, but it is not life and death.

Also, what works good for me is to just accept the attack and say to it, do your worst, i've got better things to do right now. Then I continue my day and its power dies.

I also take zoloft that has helped tremendously. You have a good approach to overcoming it. God speed.

[Hidden]

I'm very sorry for your pain... it sounds a lot like mine when I was your age. Do you have a therapist and have you considered a low dose antidepressant. It’s worth researching.