Finals are coming up and I'm feeling overwhelmed. My heart races every time I think about studying, and I can't seem to focus on anything. I've tried deep breathing exercises, but they only help temporarily.
I know I'm not the only one going through this, but it feels so isolating. Sometimes I wonder if I'm cut out for college at all. The pressure to perform well is constant, and I feel like I'm drowning.
Has anyone found strategies that actually work for managing this kind of anxiety? I'm open to trying anything at this point.
I completely understand what you're going through. What helped me was breaking study sessions into smaller chunks - like 25 minutes of studying followed by a 5-minute break. It made everything feel more manageable.
Have you tried the 4-7-8 breathing technique? Breathe in for 4, hold for 7, exhale for 8. It activates your parasympathetic nervous system and really helps calm anxiety. Also, remember that your worth isn't determined by your grades.
I felt the same way during my sophomore year. What really helped was talking to a counselor at the student health center. They taught me some cognitive techniques for managing anxious thoughts. You're definitely not alone in this.