[Zen888]

Hello Everyone

I am overwhelmed right now.....

I am having severe anxiety/panic attacks surrounding the amount of assignments, readings, and tests coming up this month.

How do I adjust and calm down? I don't want to drop out of college!!

Zen888

[gimmeice]

((((((((( zen888 ))))))))))))) Are you seeing a couselor or therapist? There are many relaxation exercises that you might want to try, I am sorry I can't think of any as I am struggling with anxiety right now too, you might check the anxiety forum there may be some resources posted there.

[splitimage]

It's really easy to feel overwhelmed when it seems like everything is coming due at once. What worked for me, in getting through school, both undergrad and grad, and my accountancy exams was seriously planning and then sticking to the plan.

Make a big list of everything you have to do, with due dates noted. You may find it helpful to do it on a calendar so that you'll have a visual. Then figure out how much time you realistically have to study. Allow time for eating, sleeeping, and exercise, because it's really important to stay healthy.

Then figure out how to break each task down into smaller components. For example with an essay, there might be research, writing the outline, writing the essay, proofreading / pollishing.

Do this with each task so you have a mini flow chart for each major task. Thsi may seem like a big deal, but having things broken down into smaller bits actually makes things more manageable. Then decide that how much time you can spend on each task, within your total available time, so that you can cover as much as possible. You can focus on areas that need more work and assign them more time, or conversely you may decide that there's simply no way you'll be able to learn X by the time of the exam unless you focus exclusively on it, which is not a good use of your time. So ignore X completely and focus on reviewing everything else in the subject thoroughly.

I did this pretty ruthlessly when I was studying for my accountancy exams because I was working full time at the time, so I only had a finite number of hours that I could devote to studying, so I grouped studying into subjects that I knew really well, that needed only minor practice and revies, topics I didn't know well that needed a lot of study, and topics that I was simply unlikely to learn well. I focused mainly on the middle group since they offered the greatest return for the effort and reviewed my good topics in between hard topics, both as a break and to make sure I'd get as many possible points on the easy stuff as possible.

It takes some time to set up the plan and some effort to stick with it, but it is a really efficient way of working.

Good luck.

--splitimage

[PleaseHelp]

Have you talked with someone at the college about your anxiety? They can help you find ways to attend class and lessen the anxiety.

(((((((((((((((((Zen))))))))))))))))

I hear you hon .... i hope you feel better real soon ... i know anxiety is so dabilitating ..... take care, sending you huggies ..... Jinny xoxoxoxoxoxo

[multipixie9]

my comment is a general one, but important and fits in with others. DONT BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP

The semester i had 15 hours classes, 20 hours work week and having a wedding with 250 invites (my wedding =) ) the stress broke my down and i began to get sick and be unable to study. i finally spoke to several teachers where i was struggling the most and some made special efforts to help me and work with me.

As someone mentioned the Univ. you attend should have counseling resources and this is exactly what they are there for. They WANT YOU TO SUCCEED AND EXIST TO HELP!

I hope you can allow yourself to calm down a bit and look for some ways to cope. YOU CAN DO THIS!

Hugs,

leslie and her pixies

[digdug]

With all my apartment issues, I'm likely going to get an extension on an assignment I have coming up next week...despite the image of the cold, stuffy professor, most are extremely friendly and willing to help you out (though the cold, stuffy types do surface from time to time).

Remember that even though this is school, you are not a child. You are an adult with adult problems, and all the good profs recognize that.