just need a lil advice/support...

Hey. I'm still a little new to the anxiety forum. I've had issues with anxiety since the end of my senior year of high school in 2005. I am currently in college. I just started last spring to get my associates degree in nursing to become an RN. I took the summer off & enrolled for the fall which starts tomorrow. I'm just kinda anxious about first day with new classes & such. Just needing a little support on what I should do if I happen to have an anxiety attack while there etc. I haven't really done much the last few months so this is a big step for me with all that has been going on. I am raising my 2 year old son pretty much alone, I had a m/c in June, my fiance & I are having relationship issues, I'm living with my dad, using my mom's car for transportation. A lot has been going on & I feel tired a lot, etc. I know going to college is good since I am furthering my education & I can get a good job once I get my degree. I'm trying to get a job & have been the last few months. I'm waiting to hear back about one interview I had on friday. Any advice or support would be great!! thanks.

[MrGreen]

There are times we look ahead of ourselves and wonder ' what if '? They are the times nothing ever happens. We build the whole thing up. Like it will end in an explosion of sorts inside of us. That's why we try and take things one day at a time. Here and now I am not even thinking about tomorrow. Whatever ever happens then I will face it. But until then I am living for now. This minute. Not worrying about what if this is happens tomorrow or this doesn't happen. We can only do our best. And I am sure your best will be good enough. What can you do? Try and come up with some form of distraction. That's if you want advice when college starts out. Something you can do should you need to. Be it a mind game only you are aware of. Imagine the whole class just sitting there in boxer shorts or something. Just make something up that will work for you. And you will have no problems at all. Your 2 year old should be your driving force. Tell yourself you are doing all this for him and you. That alone would carry me through. Other than that I can only wish you all the best.

[Jacksons_mommy]

Thank you MrGreen. I almost laughed when you told me to picture them all in boxers, etc.

[MrGreen]

That is the whole idea. If you use your imagination you can have a good giggle and they won't know what you are laughing at. Few mind games. Hope they don't lock you up for it. Laughing to herself. What would they think? Haha !!!!!!

[Jacksons_mommy]

Yeah that's a good idea. thanks. lol.

[Jacksons_mommy]

Well my first day went pretty well... however I didn't picture anyone in their underwear lol... thanks for the advice & support though... I just tried to keep myself focused on what was going on in class.

[MrGreen]

See. We can think ahead. And for what? Nothing. Make ourselves worry in advance. It is never worth it. Well done. I am sure you will do fine. Always have the boxers to fall back on. LOL.

[Jacksons_mommy]

Yeah I'm a big worrywart which doesn't help my anxiety at all. Yeah lol I'll always have that to fall back on.

[rortiz]

I'm glad to hear that your first day went well. I'm getting a bit anxious myself because I start back tomorrow. I took summer courses and had a small 2 week summer break. I started having anxiety issues about 1 1/2 weeks ago. My timing is always great...I have a full fall semester ahead of me. I have class from 10:30am to 7pm. This is my junior year, but I still get nervous with every new class I have...let alone 4. Tomorrow will be a trying day for me. I hope it goes well. I think the longer I am in the class, the more I will get used to it and be comfortable.

[Jacksons_mommy]

Yeah see the difference between us is that I took the entire summer off. I was gonna take summer classes but didn't know you had to apply for financial aid every semester so I just took the summer off because it was too late to apply. So I hadn't had a class since the beginning of May. I only have 4 classes Monday & Wednesday, then 3 classes on Friday because one of my classes is a hybrid class so a portion of it is done online. What is your major? You'll do fine. The longer you are in the classes the more comfortable you feel. I think I have anxiety especially in public places because I am surrounded by people that I don't know. Once you get more involved in classes & make some friends, you'll be fine. Just try to focus on what they are going over in class. I think the first day is always the worst plus you don't really do much so your mind tends to wander. If all else fails do what MrGreen told me & just picture everyone in their boxers or underwear. I didn't actually do that yesterday lol but it made me laugh reading that.

[rortiz]

I'm majoring in Management Information Systems . I'm at the point where the easy stuff is out of the way and ALL of my classes are hard. I have 4 classes Mondays and Wednesdays and 2 on Fridays. I have a lot of friends at my university , but none of them are doing the same degree as me. I'm probably reading into this too much. The reason I guess I'm more worried is because I haven't been on my medication long enough for it to totally calm me down. I still don't feel well enough to drive my car. Glad I have family that can help. I'll try this boxer thing out and report back my findings haha. Thanks!

[Jacksons_mommy]

Wow just the name of that sounds like it's hard....lol... I'm only doing my basics right now. My major is nursing so I'm sure my classes will get harder once I get all the basics out of the way. Yeah that is a lot especially with the classes being harder. Just try that boxer thing & let me know lol.... not a problem. I'm here if you ever wanna talk since we are kind of in the same boat. I'm not currently on medication because I can't afford to go to the doc that knows my history with anxiety so I just deal with it on my own. I just try to stay relax & if I start to panic or freak out I think of something that makes me happy like picturing my son laughing or something. that helps me.

[amish1979]

The worst anxiety is the anticipation.  Once you actually get there and are involved, it's all cream cheese.

[Jacksons_mommy]

yeah that is so true.

[Jacksons_mommy]

how are your classes going??

[rortiz]

I've had 2 of the 4 so far today. They have been okay. The first class was a bit harder because my medicine made my eyes a little blurry. My eyes were fine by the second class, but all my meds are killing my stomach so that's all I think about. I tried the boxer thing and was just weird. Not everyone was very attractive so it was a bit hard to imagine. haha. Nonetheless, so far so good. It is really true that the anticipation is way worse but when you start participating it's much easier to keep your mind at bay.

[Jacksons_mommy]

Well glad to hear things are going well for you so far. Yeah I bet that was kind of weird. I never actually tried it. I was afraid if I did that I'd start laughing in the middle of class & I didn't want to have to explain myself...lol. Yeah anticipation is the worst part. I'm still having a little trouble staying focused in class just because it's the beginning of the semester & we aren't doing much yet. Good luck with the rest of your day! Hope it keeps going well.