First off, if you’ve got into University, well done! That’s a real achievement!

Hopefully, you are excited by the prospect and have somewhere to stay when you arrive, either in halls or in a shared house. But, through all the excitement, are you also a tiny bit (or even extremely) anxious?

If so, that is perfectly normal. It’s your brain’s way of alerting you to possible danger, but what could possibly be dangerous about going to University?

What can cause anxiety?

Common answers include leaving home for the first time, not knowing anyone, being in a new city, managing money, loneliness and feeling awkward about making new friends.

While they may be things that you are concerned about, they are not actually dangerous. Are they? Unless you think they are and then the anxiety can settle in!

If you think about it, they are not really dangerous, but there is an element of the unknown, which may feel like danger to you.

So, what is causing your specific anxiety?

Write down five things that you are worried about. Look at them again. Which ones are you really worried about? Have you ever heard of them happening to someone else? Have they ever happened to you? Or are you just worrying about whether they might happen?

Being anxious is often a sign that you are about to achieve new things, move to the next level, make new friends, or any of the other things you are anxious about. In those situations, a bit of anxiety is normal, and it isn’t a mental health issue.

The anxiety you feel at the top of a ladder will make you extremely careful how you walk down. The anxiety you feel at a cliff edge is what will make you careful how close you stand from the edge. And the anxiety you feel in a new situation is what’s letting you know you’re about to grow.

Preparing for anxious situations

Let’s imagine something else. Imagine you get to your student accommodation and you are on the list with a room allocated. Imagine that the person in the next room is really friendly. And let’s think about going to your first lecture and everybody receives you warmly. Is that not a better way to prepare?

So, look at your list and see which ones you can pre-empt. For the others, have a plan of action.

The Universities are ready to welcome you and will do their best to look after you. Find out the sources of help on campus in case you should ever need them, but most importantly, get ready to celebrate a great achievement. Because you have already excelled to get there and a few weeks into the new term you will wonder what all the fuss was about. Enjoy yourself!

About

Caroline D’ay is the UK’s leading therapeutic change consultant. Caroline has been coaching and counselling individuals, families and teams for over 30 years, helping them to overcome personal obstacles and to achieve their goals. Caroline is qualified in a range of techniques including trauma release, neuro-linguistic programming and mindfulness, that can help with issues ranging from post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression, stress and relationship issues.