Anxiety
Anxiety is a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome.
Even some of the most confident people may have experienced anxiety and it’s something that we all experience to some level. However, if anxiety gets out of control or stops a person from doing everyday things, this can lead to feeling unhappy, upset and frustrated. Many anxiety disorders begin in childhood and adolescence, and the average time a person waits to seek help for their condition is more than 10 years. So a lot of university students may have been feeling anxious for quite a long time. The pressures of studying, getting involved and being away from home could be making things feel worse than ever.
Even some of the most confident people may have experienced anxiety and it’s something that we all experience to some level. However, if anxiety gets out of control or stops a person from doing everyday things, this can lead to feeling unhappy, upset and frustrated. Many anxiety disorders begin in childhood and adolescence, and the average time a person waits to seek help for their condition is more than 10 years. So a lot of university students may have been feeling anxious for quite a long time. The pressures of studying, getting involved and being away from home could be making things feel worse than ever.
How to support a friend
It can be difficult to tell if someone is struggling with anxiety as lots of people are able to hide their feelings. But if someone you know is no longer doing things they used to do or enjoy and they seem to be avoiding situations they didn’t used to struggle with, they may be experiencing anxiety.
Encourage them to speak to someone about how they are feeling. This may be difficult for them, especially if they think no one else feels the same or that they won’t be understood. If they’ve been feeling this way for a long time, they might feel like they are unable to cope or that nothing can be done to improve the situation. Talking to someone they trust will reduce the pressure of anxiety and stress. It may also help them to realise that they are not alone in how they are feeling.
It can be difficult to tell if someone is struggling with anxiety as lots of people are able to hide their feelings. But if someone you know is no longer doing things they used to do or enjoy and they seem to be avoiding situations they didn’t used to struggle with, they may be experiencing anxiety.
Encourage them to speak to someone about how they are feeling. This may be difficult for them, especially if they think no one else feels the same or that they won’t be understood. If they’ve been feeling this way for a long time, they might feel like they are unable to cope or that nothing can be done to improve the situation. Talking to someone they trust will reduce the pressure of anxiety and stress. It may also help them to realise that they are not alone in how they are feeling.
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