Second Semester Anxiety

mamag2855
Sat, 05 Mar 2016 18:53:18 +0000

@NEPatsGirl I have 2 over achieving daughters at college, too, and I have periodically fielded similar phone calls. It is very upsetting, but it was good that you were able to get her through some tough moments.

I pushed both of my daughters to visit the counting center at their college and both found it to be very helpfull. My younger daughter, now a sophomore. Is in general an anxious, mildly OCD kid who has a hard time adjusting to new experiences, so settling in that first semester away was a big challenge for her.

After daily tearful phone calls her first weeks at college, I finally convinced her go to the counseling center. She went regularly for a few months snd stopped when she got settled in her classes, found friends and activities, etc.

My older daughter transitioned well her freshman year, but started having issues during her sophomore year, when she decided , coincidentally, to double major in biochemistry and computer science and also do a semester abroad. She felt overwhelmed at times and she found a counselor at school who helped her develop good coping strategies. She has continued to meet with her counselor regularly, even though things are going well, she appreciates having a “neutral” sounding board. She has learned that getting an occasional B is not the end of the world.

If you feel like there are on going anxiety issues, encourage your daughter to seek out help at her school’s counseling center. I feel as though my daughters are both now much better equipped to handle life’s ups and downs. Anxiety can turn into depression and become a much bigger problem.