When students first go off to college, there are many changes in their lives. Students may be leaving the town where they grew up where they made friends, and where their family lives. Some students are financially responsible for themselves for the first time and the may not know more than a few people at their college of choice. Between the stress of college and being in an unfamiliar place, it can be hard to put themselves out there. Social anxiety does not discriminate and anyone can experience it, though it may be different for different people. Especially in college, the perception of success is dependent on one’s ability to be social and work in group projects, make friends, present in class, and fully take advantage of all the opportunities a university has to offer which can be difficult while experiencing social anxiety.
According to the National Social Anxiety Center, there are three factors that contribute to social anxiety; thoughts, feelings or emotions, and behaviors. These factors all connect and impact each other, affecting someone’s social anxiety. Thoughts of worry can make it difficult for someone to engage in social situations; such as the thought that they will not fit in well and fear around meeting new people when joining an organization or they will be judged by the people they interact with. Feelings and emotions someone may experience when thinking about interacting with a new roommate or classmates include high anxiety, fear, and nervousness. These thoughts and emotions will likely affect a student’s daily life without proper support. Students may avoid social events, joining campus organizations, or other situations that may cause social anxiety or fear. This can make it difficult to make the most out of your college experience.
Hannah Hardin | Vandal Health Peer Educator
Anxiety disorders are one of the most common types of mental health among adults and especially in college students. However, there are resources that can help, especially at the University of Idaho. If a student is in need of someone to talk to about their anxiety or stress there are a plethora of resources around campus. The Counseling and Testing Center is a completely free, confidential service offered to all students and staff. For those who may think they are experiencing anxiety, the CTC is a great resource. Students can make an appointment by calling (208) 885-6716 or stopping in at Mary E. Forney Hall. After business hours, students can access a counseling line with the same phone number.
Advisors are more than willing to help find and recommend clubs or organizations they think would be great options to meet peers with similar interests when students are ready to participate. Additional self-care strategies are available in the Well Space in the Student Rec Center from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every weekday. The space is staffed by peer educators who can help identify and connect students to resources available on campus. Additional resources include the Well Space Wednesday held every Wednesday in the Well Space and Alice’s Room.
College is such a unique experience where you can meet a diverse population of people and find new opportunities to expand your horizons. UI offers so many great chances to learn in different ways and meet new people with the support you need to help pursuing your interests. There are an endless amount of clubs and organizations on campus where you can meet people with similar interests and career paths. There are also many volunteer opportunities and programs available on campus, local community and even abroad. It is important to remember that with the support offered on campus, no one is ever alone.