Starting University
The beginning of the University year can throw up a range of different experiences for students.
Many students returning to University may be looking forward to experiencing a more “normal” student life with less covid 19 restrictions, while others may be feeling anxious about how they will cope with more face-to-face teaching and relaxed social events.
For first year students, experiences can vastly differ. Although it is exiting and fun for some , it can be daunting and anxiety provoking for others.
Young people are often told that the university years will be the best years of their life, and for many this may be true, but perhaps others will feel pressure or a sense of failure and disappointment if this is not the case.
Starting university is a time of huge change on so many levels. Leaving school or college may initially feel very liberating but it can also be experienced as quite scary with an unknown future looming ahead.
For students who need structure and routine, the long wait for university to can feel unsettling and difficult.
Starting university involves leaving the security of home life and being expected to manage looking after oneself whilst organising study routines and attending lectures.
Living life alongside groups of strangers and the pressure of meeting and socialising with new people can feel overwhelming, particularly for young people who are shy or have social anxiety.
Young people with neuro diverse issues such as ASD or ADHD can find adapting to university extremely challenging, particularly in relation to self-care, organisation, managing money and the pressure of being expected to participate in numerous social events.
Students need to remember that they are not alone in feeling the way they do. although it may seem that everyone else is confident and coping with university life and no one else is struggling as they are.
Students who have neuro diverse problems or who have had mental health issues need to access help and support from the university student disability support team.
For all students support is available from counsellors who provide therapy within the university setting.
It can help new students to set up regular online or phone chats with their support network at home, so that they can be given extra help as and when they need it. .
Universities are aware that students struggle and have different needs and interests; joining different societies, which are usually available, can make it easier to meet people who they have more in common with.
Many provide access to group activities such as online games , Board games , sober social groups which may enable students to feel more at ease and less pressured to actively socialise whether its online or face to face.
Most importantly, if students are finding things difficult they need to ask for help and let a family member, friend or university tutor/counsellor/other student know that they are struggling.
It is normal to find university life a huge and at times overwhelming experience, which will hopefully become easier and enjoyable in time.
Judith Argent
Senior CBT Therapist
Director of The Meyer Therapy Practice