How College Students and Young Adults Can Manage Anxiety

“Seeking support from friends, family, or mental health professionals can provide valuable coping mechanisms and emotional support,” she continued. “Additionally, engaging in hobbies and activities that bring joy and relaxation can offer a necessary break from stressors.”
“It can be a fine line, but students with so-called ‘helicopter parents’ could have a more negative view of their relationship with those parents,” she added.
Like Rivera Cruz, Yenner and Duygu Balan emphasized the importance of healthy lifestyle practices, especially getting adequate sleep.
“To improve your sleep, consider a comprehensive approach, addressing both physical and behavioral factors,” they wrote. “Ensuring a consistent bedtime routine, optimizing your sleep environment, and managing substances like caffeine and alcohol can greatly enhance your sleep quality.”
Gratitude has been shown to improve self-esteem, promote prosocial behaviors—like empathy and generosity—transform one’s outlook, and deepen connections with others, according to the authors.
Yenner and Duygu Balan said, “Learning to say no is vital for maintaining boundaries and protecting both mental and physical well-being.”
“While many people fear conflict and disappointing others, setting limits is essential to avoid burnout and to cultivate healthy relationships,” they added.
When deciding whether to consent to a request, they advised examining whether you genuinely want to commit or are acting out of guilt or fear of missing out. Taking time before responding allows you to assess your energy, priorities, and commitments, ensuring a thoughtful, genuine choice.
“When turning down an invitation, being respectful yet clear helps maintain relationships while honoring your boundaries,” said the authors.
“This reflective practice promotes physiological health, enhances self-understanding, and supports resilience, contributing to better overall life management,” they noted.
“The pressure to compare oneself to others, amplified by social media, can fuel anxiety, self-criticism, and poor performance, while draining energy and focus,” they said.
“Compassion involves empathy, where one deeply connects with another’s suffering, acknowledging their pain with an emotional understanding, and often includes the desire to alleviate their distress,” they said.
“Kindness, on the other hand, is expressed through actions or attitudes, such as offering time or assistance, without necessarily needing an emotional connection or understanding of the other person’s experience,” they stated.
Acts of kindness, like holding a door open, can be simple gestures that uplift others, while compassion delves deeper into the emotional realm.
Both compassion and kindness enhance relationships, create a sense of community, and positively impact both the giver and receiver, spreading happiness and connection, stated the authors.
“Embracing these attributes towards others and ourselves allows for acts of understanding, self-care, and generosity, enriching our lives and the lives of those around us,” the authors summed up.
“It involves both situational and verbal elements, serving as a social tool that brings people together and facilitates bonds.”
“Humor can deflate tension, provide emotional release, and offer a broader perspective on complex topics. When used constructively, it fosters communication, strengthens relationships, and deepens social connections while boosting self-esteem and resilience,” the authors added.
Yenner and Duygu Balan delineate some of the potential problems. “Overstimulation from constant online engagement diminishes creativity and real-life social connections. Additionally, cyberbullying, racial discrimination, and predatory behaviors present serious risks, especially for vulnerable populations, leading to feelings of loneliness, shame, and stress,” they said.
“Goals are specific, measurable tasks and something that you can accomplish,” they defined. “An example of a goal may be ‘completing college,’ it is defined and is clear when it is completed.”
Such measures are complemented by techniques involving creativity, such as expressive writing, and practical approaches, such as learning to say no. A completely stress-free life may not be possible, but when anxiety starts to build, consider trying some of the above strategies to keep it manageable.