For any college student, stress is a normal part of life. However, that does not mean that it is healthy. Academic anxiety is a common yet severe condition that affects a large majority of college students. Learn how to get rid of it, so you can get the best out of your college life!

What is academic anxiety

Anxiety is a reaction to a certain object in the environment that needs your immediate attention. When you feel anxiety, your brain releases a myriad of biochemicals that heightens your attention and perception to the source of anxiety.

Anxiety is not necessarily a bad thing. Studies show that our level of productivity is at its best when we feel moderate levels of anxiety. When we feel low levels of anxiety, we lose motivation to study for exams or do homework. On the other hand, high levels of anxiety activate our ‘fight-flight response’, which is not good in normal situations.

Academic anxiety is a form of high-level anxiety that arises in academic work. 

Symptoms to look out for

To learn how to cope with academic anxiety, you should know the signs of the condition. There are four main symptoms of academic anxiety: worry, emotionality, task-generated interference, and study skills deficit.

• Worry: Excessive worry is characterized by thoughts that prevent you from doing academic work. They can be overly pessimistic thoughts, self-depreciating thoughts, or wallowing over a consequence of doing poorly in one task.
  
  
• Emotionality: This is the biological symptoms of anxiety. They are characterized by fast heartbeats, muscle tension, and sweaty palms.
  
  
• Task-generated interference: If worry is all about the thought, then task-generated interference is the actions that prevent you from being productive. They come in many forms, such as glancing too much on the clock during exams or spending too much time on a question you cannot answer.
  
  
• Study skills deficit: These are your current study habits that create anxiety. Examples of these are procrastination, poor note-taking during lectures, and last minute cramming for your test.

How can you cope 

There are several techniques that you can employ to ease your academic anxiety. Try these techniques for size and see the results!  

Excessive worrying can be defeated by positive self-imagery. When you are facing against negative thoughts, try disputing these thoughts with more productive and realistic thoughts. Always keep in mind that negative thoughts are illogical and irrational, and can be managed with easy thought exercises.

Emotionality, on the other hand, can be managed with simple breathing techniques. When you feel that you are shaking or your heart beats getting faster, stop what you are doing and breathe. This will help you relax and be grounded in your surroundings.

Meanwhile, task-generated interference and study skills deficit is countered with self-management techniques. Try identifying the behaviors that are unproductive and cause anxiety, and write them on a piece of paper. Then, think of new, more productive behaviors to replace them.

References: 

http://lsc.cornell.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Understanding-Academic-Anxiety.pdf

http://www.lsus.edu/overcoming-academic-anxiety

Contributed by:
Allison Julianne Macasaet
Allison is a freelance writer on the side, a student of international relations on the other. Interests include fantasy books, international relations, and lifestyle..