Counseling Services at UMFK: Anxiety Fact Sheet

UMFK Accessibility Office Anxiety: Fact Sheet

How can anxiety affect my learning?

Anxiety is something that everyone experiences at some point in their lives.  Anxiety does not discriminate; it can affect anyone.  Problems begin to arise when the feelings of anxiety (fear and distress) become so overwhelming that it is negatively impacting you in one or more areas on functioning.  In our case, we will focus on how anxiety can cause problems in the learning process.

The feelings of anxiety can make it uncomfortable in the social environment that often accompanies attending classes.  This “discomfort” can be distracting and get in the way of your ability to concentrate.  Anxiety also affects working memory (our ability to hold information in our minds for short periods of time).  If you can’t remember what you just read or what someone just said, it can have a huge impact on your ability to learn. Anxiety makes thought processing less efficient.  Recalling information already learned when in distress can feel impossible at times.  This is often what many refer to as “test anxiety”.  Additionally, when someone is feeling overwhelmed and anxious, studying or completing assignments feels like an unwelcome burden and a daunting task.  In essence, anxiety can really limit the successful navigation of the learning process and therefore cause more anxiety, creating a vicious wheel of triggering symptoms.

How can I learn how to manage my symptoms, so that I can function as a student?

If you are struggling with anxiety, you know how overwhelming everything feels.  Stopping the anxiety “chain reaction” is an important part of getting back on track as a learner.  

Here are some helpful tips to start the process:

1. Approach- DON’T AVOID:  College is challenging.  The worst mistake a college student can make is avoiding the things that are causing their anxiety.  If you are anxious about a class, talk to the professor; if you don’t understand the topics being taught in class, get a tutor. There are so many supports available in the college setting, so use them.
2. Practice Self-Care:  Make sure you are maintaining healthy eating habits, getting enough sleep every night, and in general creating a regular routine (which has built-in study time) you can follow daily.  Having some semblance of consistency when feeling overwhelmed can be very helpful.
3. Find resources on campus: ...and use them. UMFK has some great resources available to all students.  The Student Success Center is really your “one-stop shop” for student support.  It offers tutoring, writing center support, advising help, and emotional support through personal counseling.  Additionally, there are academic aid materials that can really make a difference in your study time.
4. Allow for mistakes: Just because you are an adult on a college campus does not mean you stop making mistakes.  This is often a time of self-discovery (no matter what your age) and with that comes times when your emotions begin making decisions rather than logic.   It’s okay!  Learning how not to make the same mistakes twice is really what creates “teachable moments.”
5. Connect with someone who cares:  Make sure you find “your person” on campus. Connecting with at least one person can make your college experience much more enjoyable. Having a “go to” person to answer questions, face you in the right direction, and in general be your emotional support person can make all the difference.

	ANXIETY Signs and Symptoms to Monitor: Excessive worrying Feeling agitated Restlessness Irritable Difficulty sleeping Panic attacks Irrational fears Social isolation