College Anxiety

[had_o]

So I’m a senior in high school this year. And I’m getting pressure from many sources about choosing schools and being prepared etc. but I don’t know what I want to do. I want to stay at home bc it’s what I know. I don’t feel like going very far yet and creating a whole new lifestyle for myself. I’m comfortable with the people in my life and my current lifestyle. But I can’t live at home, my parents are a partial cause of many of my mental health issues.

I don’t want to live in a dorm, as I don’t want to meet new people or make new friends or have to share a room. I need to have my own space and alone time, and in college I feel like that wouldn’t happen. I want an apartment that I can live in by myself but I have no means to pay for it, unless I get a job.

I’m lost and this college shit is all stressing me out. I can’t think about it without feeling sick. Idk

[Rilo7268]

this can be a stressful time in life. if those are things you want you should look into community college. you can get a feel for college without spending a fortune.

[TNTOwl]

Hello. I am currently in college. I just started about 3 and a half months ago. And college is definitely no joke, as I am far away from my girlfriend, brother, and everyone I know and love. What's worse is the cost of it. Luckily, I went to Job Corps and I am attending college through their advanced training program, so they are covering the expenses for me. You will definitely be in a room with someone, and you will not get much privacy. However, that is a part of life.

Humans are social creatures, and while you may feel as if you love being alone, I can guarantee you that being alone is not so fun when you're an adult. I use to absolutely love being alone. I could do whatever I want and everything! But one day...reality will hit. When you get hurt, you get anxiety about something, when you start to worry, when you can't afford something that you desperately need...or even...when you just start to feel lonely...you're going to need someone. We all do at some point.

The biggest issue with anxiety is that it simply causes us to overthink and have tunnel vision to the negative. If I've learned anything in life, it's that the brain is a very very powerful and misunderstood tool. If you really thing hard enough and believe that you're sick even though you're perfectly healthy, you can end up thinking yourself into sickness. If you keep stressing and overthinking something that has not happened, and likely will not happen, you can face all the atrocities of that situation just by thinking about it. Where ever your mind goes, your body follows.

This is why I preach meditation. Take 20 minutes of everyday...10 minutes when you wake up, 10 minutes before bed to just close your eyes, and breathe. Don't think about anything, and focus only on your breathing to help you not think of anything. It will increase your self control, and give you a stronger control over your mind. Increase your patience, and much more.

Life can be a treat if you make it that way. Fear is only false evidence appearing real. You may not know what to do, I didn't either. And honestly most people don't. But it's because you're not supposed to. Everything you need to know, you'll know it when the time comes. I promise. So make a plan, a backup plan, and leave it at that. If you can't think of anything, just go with the flow and see what happens.

Sometimes you have to leap without looking because there's nothing to look for.

P.S: Don't go to college just because you think that's what you're "supposed to do" after school. College can be very expensive, and a lot of people aren't as fortunate as me because they didn't go to job corps (if you're in the united states, you can go after high school. there's one in every state, and I'd talk to my parents about that option too if I were you.) And I know a lot of people still struggling with debt from college...but on the other hand, I know some people who have become extremely successful through college as well.

Just know yourself and what works for you. Control what you can, and for the things you can't, don't try to control them with your mind cause you'll only end up overthinking and scaring yourself. Everything will be okay. Trust me. ^^

[had_o in reply to TNTOwl]

Thank you...very helpful