[mymartianromance]

So, I'm a graphic design major and a freshman in college. Due to this I am forced to take fine arts classes before I get to the actual classes. I never had art anxiety before but now I feel like I'm the only one who can't draw. I am forced to showcase my work to my classmates which is making me anxious to the point of I just don't want to do any of the work because I can't draw the same or the way I'm supposed to (and the teacher points this out to everyone). I can't sleep well the days I have this class and wake up like I'm going to burst into tears which continues till the hour after the class.
It's too late to drop, but I don't think my mental health will last till December. I feel trapped especially since the only reason why I chose this degree was because it doesn't involve taking higher math courses, unlike my other choices.

[Skeezyks]

Hello mymartianromance: Well... it's been many years since the Skeezyks was in school! But I feel your pain. When I first started college, taking foreign language courses was a requirement. The only reason I finally graduated was because they dropped that requirement while I was in school. I took one basic math class in college (also required.) On the first day of class the instructor said that no one who came to class, & also came to his office for extra help as needed, would fail the course. So that's what I did. I got a "D" (just above failing!) Believe me... it wasn't pretty! On the other hand, somehow, I eventually ended up going to graduate school. I graduated with a 4.0 average. I know how difficult what you're going through can be. But if you can just grit your teeth & bear it, this too shall pass.

[LucyG]

Talk to a guidance counselor about your situation. Choosing a major because of what it doesn't require you to take rather than where your talents lie isn't wise. From what I know about graphic design, I think you need to be quite artistic so if you aren't, I think you're going to struggle with this major.

See if you can take some sort of aptitude test to help you figure out where your talents are.

[alicetailor]

Originally Posted by mymartianromance

So, I'm a graphic design major and a freshman in college. Due to this I am forced to take fine arts classes before I get to the actual classes. I never had art anxiety before but now I feel like I'm the only one who can't draw. I am forced to showcase my work to my classmates which is making me anxious to the point of I just don't want to do any of the work because I can't draw the same or the way I'm supposed to (and the teacher points this out to everyone). I can't sleep well the days I have this class and wake up like I'm going to burst into tears which continues till the hour after the class.
It's too late to drop, but I don't think my mental health will last till December. I feel trapped especially since the only reason why I chose this degree was because it doesn't involve taking higher math courses, unlike my other choices.

Why you don’t you take assistance from a counselor?

[snarkydaddy]

Originally Posted by mymartianromance

So, I'm a graphic design major and a freshman in college. Due to this I am forced to take fine arts classes before I get to the actual classes. I never had art anxiety before but now I feel like I'm the only one who can't draw. I am forced to showcase my work to my classmates which is making me anxious to the point of I just don't want to do any of the work because I can't draw the same or the way I'm supposed to (and the teacher points this out to everyone). I can't sleep well the days I have this class and wake up like I'm going to burst into tears which continues till the hour after the class.
It's too late to drop, but I don't think my mental health will last till December. I feel trapped especially since the only reason why I chose this degree was because it doesn't involve taking higher math courses, unlike my other choices.

I it is hard
I ran a communications business for over 20 years...

The studio classes can really push you to your limits.

The fine art classes will teach you many valuable things you can apply to design later... It will also help you be able to work in many styles. Being a designer is a rough business and career and you really need to desire it pretty much more then anything to be good at it.

Hang in there
Being a creative is a lifestyle your parents and friends are not going to understand... And will never know how hard it is...

You will get through this
And might one day you will want to earn your living as a fine artist after you spent tome designing things for others...

[Talthybius]

I feel like saying this is the kind of anxiety you should face and overcome. I mean, it's not that bad to have a fellow student think your art is bad? Especially not when you aren't an art student. But that's just my unfair reasoning talking.

Having been in similar positions on different subjects, I understand it's not that easy.

I feel that you should think this is a fine way to be out of your comfort zone, but I guess it's more of a confrontation than you'd wish.
I guess that the best answer for me to give is to just put it to you straight that the anxiety you are suffering is not justified. You must have been reenforcing this in your mind in some way. So I feel I have to remind yourself that this is all in your mind. Your brain is doing this to yourself. Yes, it's not a choice to experience this or not, but maybe you can stop the pattern of reenforcing this belief that it is worth it to have anxiety about this.

You mention mental health issues, so I maybe your own judgment of your drawing isn't quite objective and your drawing is much better than you give credit for. And even if you are the worst; so what. You probably get graded on how much you improve. And you aren't a fine art major. And if you were, you would want to know you are terrible at drawing, if that is true, and accept that, and consider what that means for your degree. What are you truly afraid of?

Point being, it's simple for others to say this shouldn't be as big a deal as you make of it, and it is true, but that in itself won't solve your problem. In the end, you yourself need to find a way to make this much smaller of a deal, and then suffer through it and come out stronger.

[MickeyCheeky]

Yeah, I agree... talk with a guidance counselor and think about it... I wish you good luck