As part of the Less Stress Interactive series, hosted by the University of Memphis student health and counseling services, there was a social anxiety event on Wednesday, Sept. 11 on the second floor of the library.
The event was facilitated by two Psychology interns, DJ Walker and Gabe Alfaro. The goals of this event were to gain insight into how anxiety affects college students and discuss coping strategies for anxiety. There are many factors that can contribute to increased anxiety as a college student. A few of these components include a big life transition, learning how to be independent, and navigating a new social circle.
Social Anxiety is defined as a fear of being constantly watched or judged by others, or fear of social situations and it can affect day-to-day functioning. A range of psychological and physical signs and symptoms indicating social anxiety consist of avoidance, performance anxiety, self-consciousness, nausea, increased heart rate, sweating and trembling.
After going through what social anxiety is and its symptoms, the facilitators opened a discussion asking if anyone resonated with feelings of social anxiety, and many students reported that they did, which reflects a growing issue of anxiety in society.
Another significant question that the event coordinators asked, “What are some things you have been doing to cope with feelings of stress?” Anonymous responses included, “I like journaling and writing stuff down,” and “I just like to sit down, chill out, and listen to music on my phone.”
Because social anxiety is so prevalent in college students, it is important to be educated about ways to cope.
During the presentation, Walker and Alfaro explained different techniques to self soothe. Recognizing personal anxiety triggers is important for making coping skills effective. Keeping a journal or log of experiences with anxiety can help with recognizing triggers. By being aware of personal triggers, it is easier for students to self-monitor anxiety by deep breathing, grounding techniques, or trying different coping strategies until one works. Alongside coping skills, there are also protective factors which contribute to mental resilience. Protective factors consist of social support, self-esteem, sense of value, and healthy thinking. The aim of protective factors is to reframe negative thoughts into positive ones, and not fall into black and white thinking.
As mentioned at the end of the social anxiety event, the University of Memphis counseling center has many resources for students struggling with mental health including, free therapy services, psychodiagnostics evaluations, and psychiatric medication services. There are also two relaxation zones on campus to help students alleviate stress, one in Brister Hall, and the other in the University Center. Overall, this event emphasized the significance of the impact of social anxiety and various ways to support students who are struggling.
