So I am in the final week of the semester for this year. This is my senior year of college and I am almost out which is a nice feeling but I have had so much work it has been crazy, My anxiety had been off the chain for the last two weeks. Its gotten to the point where I am genuinely struggling to start anything, I will think about starting an assignment and then will get so anxious about it I can no longer do it. In the past week I have suffered 3 full blown panic attacks, I have not been this bad since before diagnoses and medication. I have tried warm bath tea, but they don't seem to be working. When I was younger I used to cut to cope with my anxiety and lately I can't get cutting off my mind. I don't want to do it but my intrusive thoughts keeps barging in to the point to where at times thats all thats on my mind. I hate cutting because its hard to hide and it can cause scarring, I hate when people see it and I most definitely don't want anymore scars. I haven't cut since I was young but since then I have struggled to find a healthy coping mechanism for my anxiety. Any advice. I just want to get through this semester without disappointing anyone. This is the worst time for a mental breakdown and I can't let my anxiety keep me from being the best I can be. What should I do? Are there any healthy coping mechanisms that work for you? Is there anyone else out there who may be sharing a similar dilemma? I just need advice and to know I am not alone, I am scared.
I am so sorry that you feel so anxious that you are self harming.
I assume you have sought treatment for this?
I expect you know that cutting is a way of trying to relieve your innermost feelings but the scars are reminders of why you cut in the first place soi it becomes a visious circle.
ASSIGNMENTS.
I went through a terrible time thanks to going to college and coming into contact with an unsympathetic tutor who was disliked by everyone in the class. I had never had any difficulties with studying or completing any written work prior to this encounter. I discussed it with my colleagues only to discover that they too were feeling exactly the same. It was uncanny.
Anyway webanded together and just did our best when it came TO doing the assignments. Strangely enough it was this time of year as well. I think that holidays can reinforce problems as we have too much time to think or think that we should be free to enjoy ourselves but instead have to meet deadlines.
personally I would suggest drawing up a plan of action for this assignment. Draw up an outline then d0oma small amount each day. It is surprising how much you will achieve, remember getting started on these assignments is the most difficult bit..
Good luck you will get there.
Thank you Harriot for sharing with me. I have told my councler about cutting before but he did not seem to concerned, I ended up stopping the practice quite a long time ago but it still pops into my thoughts sometimes. I know there are other ways to cope and so I have tried to move on to these methods.
It is great you found a group of colleges to support you and help you get through that hard point in your life. I too have a very supportive group of colleges that are always there for me when need be. However I have not shared my mental health struggles with them as I recognize there is quite a large negtive stigma around it, so when these struggles get arise I just kind of shut down in a way and seclude myself. I do not like sharing with people who have not had any mental health issues as I find they generally find it hard to relate.
I will however take your advice and try to finish this last week of asignments with my colleges support. Thank you very much for your advice and thank you again for sharing it is always good to know that you are not alone.