Anxiety at Uni
So i have anxiety ,diagnosed anxiety, and i've been watching these fresher week videos being on the lines of 'bite the bullet' and try to be open with people ,join societies, events , keep your bloody door open.I just want to ask if there is anyone there who just cannot physically be around people. I get exhausted trying to interact with people , needing to plan breaks and work around my subconscious worry. I can't eat in public or drink anything apart from black coffee and water in front of people and the more i watch these videos the more i feel less normal, i'm not shy and it's not about me not giving effort , but i can't physically function if i do all these things people are suggesting. Anyone having a similar situation/experience . Or anyone else find these freshers advice videos a bit frustrating.
Freshers week is definitely not worth the hype, pretty much all the people I met in Freshers week I never saw again, I have social anxiety so I can relate to shutting myself away from people but I can guarantee you'll still meet amazing people whether you join in with Freshers week or not you will make great friends on your course ect 😊
i've never seen a video but if it's what you're describing i can tell you it's a marketing ploy. i've met just as many non-social people as i have the opposite. in three years of student accommodation i'd definitely say most of us kept to ourselves, did not socialise with each other at all and were perfectly fine with it. i also have one friend whom i'm pretty sure doesn't speak to anyone except me. most people in general stick to their regular social group without venturing out too much.
long story short, do not take those videos too literally
no need to put too much pressure on yourself if you can't socialise or not socialise often. lots of people who don't have gad don't socialise either.
just hope you're getting help for your anxiety? i know it's hard to deal with it alone.
long story short, do not take those videos too literally
no need to put too much pressure on yourself if you can't socialise or not socialise often. lots of people who don't have gad don't socialise either. just hope you're getting help for your anxiety? i know it's hard to deal with it alone.
Original post by Anonymous
So i have anxiety ,diagnosed anxiety, and i've been watching these fresher week videos being on the lines of 'bite the bullet' and try to be open with people ,join societies, events , keep your bloody door open.I just want to ask if there is anyone there who just cannot physically be around people. I get exhausted trying to interact with people , needing to plan breaks and work around my subconscious worry. I can't eat in public or drink anything apart from black coffee and water in front of people and the more i watch these videos the more i feel less normal, i'm not shy and it's not about me not giving effort , but i can't physically function if i do all these things people are suggesting. Anyone having a similar situation/experience . Or anyone else find these freshers advice videos a bit frustrating.
Firstly and no offense here, those fresher's video's where perceived by someone with your condition as saying "bite the bullet" that phrase has never been used. They are also geared towards shy people with healthy levels of worry. Your a special case.. As such you shouldn't let your condition as difficult as that may be allow your mind to be so critical.
Talk to your doctor let's get your medications right!
1. Uni requires you to sit in lectures with people
2. Uni is built around social interactions in group work
3. Uni is the beginnings of building social capital with those around you on your course especially, who will later make up your professional network.
4. People are penalised for not partaking in group work.
So your going to need to manage your issue's closely if your planning to succeed.
Hello guys,
thanks for you replies. I think i've wrote that post in a bit of complete frustration combined with worry , obviously those fresher advice videos are done with good intent. I just guess i needed to vent
thanks for you replies. I think i've wrote that post in a bit of complete frustration combined with worry , obviously those fresher advice videos are done with good intent. I just guess i needed to vent
Original post by Joleee
i've never seen a video but if it's what you're describing i can tell you it's a marketing ploy. i've met just as many non-social people as i have the opposite. in three years of student accommodation i'd definitely say most of us kept to ourselves, did not socialise with each other at all and were perfectly fine with it. i also have one friend whom i'm pretty sure doesn't speak to anyone except me. most people in general stick to their regular social group without venturing out too much.
long story short, do not take those videos too literally no need to put too much pressure on yourself if you can't socialise or not socialise often. lots of people who don't have gad don't socialise either.
just hope you're getting help for your anxiety? i know it's hard to deal with it alone.
long story short, do not take those videos too literally
no need to put too much pressure on yourself if you can't socialise or not socialise often. lots of people who don't have gad don't socialise either. just hope you're getting help for your anxiety? i know it's hard to deal with it alone.
I am getting help, i've been in an AMHT for 3 years since i was 18. I started group therapy last year and it has helped me a lot though it was difficult at first , i can now do things like small talk and actually make phone calls , small things but has made a major difference. thanks for your little post , it has somewhat put me at ease.
Original post by Anonymous
I am getting help, i've been in an AMHT for 3 years since i was 18. I started group therapy last year and it has helped me a lot though it was difficult at first , i can now do things like small talk and actually make phone calls , small things but has made a major difference. thanks for your little post , it has somewhat put me at ease.
What was the group therapy like?
Original post by Anonymous
So i have anxiety ,diagnosed anxiety, and i've been watching these fresher week videos being on the lines of 'bite the bullet' and try to be open with people ,join societies, events , keep your bloody door open.I just want to ask if there is anyone there who just cannot physically be around people. I get exhausted trying to interact with people , needing to plan breaks and work around my subconscious worry. I can't eat in public or drink anything apart from black coffee and water in front of people and the more i watch these videos the more i feel less normal, i'm not shy and it's not about me not giving effort , but i can't physically function if i do all these things people are suggesting. Anyone having a similar situation/experience . Or anyone else find these freshers advice videos a bit frustrating.
I can relate sm. I just started Uni and I hate freshers week. All the videos are made by people that don't really know what its like to struggle with being social. I also suffer from anxiety and other mental health issues. I can't go out without having panic attacks but my roommates all like going out and I just hide in my room all night. And there's nothing wrong with that. Apparently, When your course actually starts everything calms down, so just try to survive the week in your own way cause that's what I'm trying to do.
Original post by Ikeo
What was the group therapy like?
At first it was like idk what i got into .I go to a young persons , psychoanalytic group. In my experience people bring whatever they like into the conversation, bouncing of of each other and sharing experiences. The therapist sometimes deliberately asks questions to people to make them talk about things further or make them talk , but its not always the case. sometimes it's a lot of silence or laughter or crying , it varies every session. Just to say it's not like it's presented in movies and TV. There is a sense of security, shared experience or care for each other i found.
Original post by Anonymous
At first it was like idk what i got into .I go to a young persons , psychoanalytic group. In my experience people bring whatever they like into the conversation, bouncing of of each other and sharing experiences. The therapist sometimes deliberately asks questions to people to make them talk about things further or make them talk , but its not always the case. sometimes it's a lot of silence or laughter or crying , it varies every session. Just to say it's not like it's presented in movies and TV. There is a sense of security, shared experience or care for each other i found.
That sounds quite helpful, thanks! I'm glad you are trying to help yourself so try not to worry about uni, there must be support services in place to help people like you and I'm sure there are others in a similar situation, so you may be able to find some friends who you can relate to
. I may try and attend a session when I start uni if it's availableOriginal post by Anonymous
So i have anxiety ,diagnosed anxiety, and i've been watching these fresher week videos being on the lines of 'bite the bullet' and try to be open with people ,join societies, events , keep your bloody door open.I just want to ask if there is anyone there who just cannot physically be around people. I get exhausted trying to interact with people , needing to plan breaks and work around my subconscious worry. I can't eat in public or drink anything apart from black coffee and water in front of people and the more i watch these videos the more i feel less normal, i'm not shy and it's not about me not giving effort , but i can't physically function if i do all these things people are suggesting. Anyone having a similar situation/experience . Or anyone else find these freshers advice videos a bit frustrating.
which uni are you at? different unis have different strategies for that kind of thing and many have alternative ways of meeting people if you don't want to get involved in the typical freshers activities
Original post by Realitysreflexx
Firstly and no offense here, those fresher's video's where perceived by someone with your condition as saying "bite the bullet" that phrase has never been used. They are also geared towards shy people with healthy levels of worry. Your a special case.. As such you shouldn't let your condition as difficult as that may be allow your mind to be so critical.
Talk to your doctor let's get your medications right!
1. Uni requires you to sit in lectures with people
2. Uni is built around social interactions in group work
3. Uni is the beginnings of building social capital with those around you on your course especially, who will later make up your professional network.
4. People are penalised for not partaking in group work.
So your going to need to manage your issue's closely if your planning to succeed.
Talk to your doctor let's get your medications right!
1. Uni requires you to sit in lectures with people
2. Uni is built around social interactions in group work
3. Uni is the beginnings of building social capital with those around you on your course especially, who will later make up your professional network.
4. People are penalised for not partaking in group work.
So your going to need to manage your issue's closely if your planning to succeed.
what you've pointed out , i know that uni in a way in geared to social interaction, building networks and group work. I've figured out how to deal with my anxiety and tolerate social situations to an extent . I've just slightly hit a ceiling because i can present myself being worry free but certain situations are just a no go.Also medication, umm, not always the solution to everything.I've been on the same meds for a couple years and have improved quite a bit combined with therapy, but as i said i think i've just hit a limit.
Original post by Anonymous
which uni are you at? different unis have different strategies for that kind of thing and many have alternative ways of meeting people if you don't want to get involved in the typical freshers activities
I heading to the University of Bath. I was quite picky about uni choices and was looking at their mental health support provisions, from what i understand Bath has quite good mental health provisions. They have various stuff to do on Freshers. , but i think i will stick to my courses induction sessions, which includes two compulsory socials that i may try to attend even if it's for ten min.
