Advice for Child Abuse Survivors: How to Overcome Social Anxiety at College

Social anxiety can be a result of many things, and is often seen in adults or young people who suffered from abuse or bullying as a child. For students with social anxiety, getting a college degree can be a lot more difficult, as for them, simply going to class could be something that makes them feel like having a panic attack. However, along with the right treatment and support, there are many things that you can do in order to make college easier on your social anxiety. Use college to your advantage in order to overcome social anxiety and achieve your college degree.

Online Classes

Many colleges offer online classes as an alternative to classes on campus. The best thing about studying online for your degree is that you can do it on your own, from the comfort of your own home. Although it’s good to get as used to being around other people as much as possible in order to help you overcome your anxiety problems, having the option of online classes for when you’re having a particularly bad day can be comforting. Online classes are available for a range of different degree topics, for example this master of science in nursing at Bradley University.

Counseling

Many colleges will have free counselling and therapy services which students are welcome to attend. Although you may also be getting counselling from a therapist or other health professional recommended by your doctor, it’s also a great idea to take advantage of any free additional counselling services offered to you by your college. College counsellors are specifically trained to help students in situations such as yours.

Making Friends

Social anxiety can make you become your own worst enemy when it comes to making friends. However, true friends will always stick by you even when your anxiety is bad, and they won’t judge you or make fun of you for it. College is one of the best times in your life when it comes to making friends, and with so many people there, it’s no surprise that most people meet their best friends for life when they’re studying for a college degree. Don’t worry about ‘fitting in’ – simply be yourself, and you’ll attract the right friends for you.

Relaxation Therapies

When it comes to managing social anxiety at college, there are plenty of things that you can do at home. Therapies such as mindfulness meditation have been proven to be highly effective when it comes to dealing with anxiety and stress problems, and can help you to regain control. Along with that, art and music therapies are also becoming more and more popular when it comes to managing anxiety issues, for example adult coloring books, which can provide you with a great distraction when you need to relax and wind down. These can be very useful if you’re doing a stressful course, such as a masters of science in nursing.

College can be a stressful time in the life of any young person, but if you have social anxiety, it can be even more difficult. Thankfully, your college years are the best time to work on overcoming your social anxiety for good.

Sexual abuse survivors often begin the healing process during college

College-student survivors of incest and other child sexual abuse