You Got This: Coping with the First Few Weeks of School

Whether you’re just starting at a new school, your first year of high school, or your first year of college, it can be a scary, daunting experience. Some seem to handle it with grace and little anxiety, while the rest of us bite through our fingernails and dread the first few days or weeks of school. What’s it going to be like this year? Will anyone like me? Will I be able to make new friends? How am I going to be able to deal with the class load and all the activities I have scheduled? So how do you help yourself through these next couple of days and weeks? I have some ideas. Most importantly, though, is this: You got this. You will make it through these days and weeks ahead intact. 1. Answer the Worrying Thoughts Sometimes we can cause our own worry and fear by the thoughts running around in our heads. This just doesn’t happen to kids or teenagers — it happens to everyone. The thoughts can run out of control sometimes, building us up into a state of worry that can feel overwhelming. You can combat these irrational thoughts (what psychologists call cognitive distortions) by answering them with rational replies. “I look horrible and everyone’s going to be looking at me.” => “Everyone’s worried about how they look, they’re not going to be looking at me any more than usual.” “I’m not sure I’m going to be able to hack this level of school.” => “I’ve done well up to this p...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Children and Teens College General Mental Health and Wellness Self-Help Students new school starting school Study Habits Source Type: blogs