Anxiety Over School?

[LauraPH]

Hi! I'm a senior in high school doing a victory lap year who has been going through one of the worse experiences in my life thus far. It's terrifyingly horrible. I'm not sure what to do anymore.

I'm behind on my credits this year due to me having a rough first two years in HS. I received an email from one of my online teachers (e-learning...I'm enrolled in a 'physical' school) telling me I failed as I didn't complete all assignments.

I have two essays due today which I'm nearly done, however, I'm still stressing over it as I'm afraid of failing in life. I have exams next week which are worth a big percentage of my grade.

Today, for example, I went to bed at 1:30am, and woke up at 4:45am having a full blown anxiety attack. Since then I haven't been able to sleep (its 6am now). I feel its pointless going to sleep now as it'll only make me more tired as I need to be up by 7:30.

Is university really worth it if it affects your mental health?

- Deadlines scare me.
- Going on from the above, essays scare me almost as much as exams do. If essays constitute a significant chunk of university, how on earth am I to get through it.
- EXAMS. Come exam time I don’t get much sleep. And no, not because I’m too busy studying, but because I’m too busy having anxiety attacks at 4-5am over this exam.

If I can’t handle this now, how on earth am I going to handle everything else that comes my way later on ?

Not only this, but normally my school related anxiety leads to anxiety about the future

If I decide not to go to university, I’ll not be able to do what I've long dreamed of doing

- What if I cannot find a job in the future without a degree?
- What if I don’t earn an income where I can support myself  by?

What kind of life would that be? I don’t want to live in constant stress worrying about these things.

When these thoughts occur, I begin to pace around the house like a complete lunatic. Sometimes, when I'm sick I begin to have anxiety over being sick in fear that I won't get better.

I'm currently on 20mg of Prozac which is meant to be for my depression but my psychiatrist (who i haven't seen for over a year as she doesn't really help much) tells me that it's for anxiety as well.

I don't want to increase my dosage as I don't want to have to rely on medication for the rest of my life.

Is there anything else I could do to combat anxiety? Does clean eating, working out etc help? ANYTHING at all.

[anxietyridden33]

I feel your pain in stressing over things. I don't do well under pressure. I'm working on my Bachelor degree to be a teacher for early childhood thru 6 th grade. This new class is stressing me out because there is so much to do. My mom also struggles with anxiety n panic disorder. Anyway my advice to you is try not to stress over things you have no control over. I know it's easier said than done. I'm here for you if you need anything sounds like we stress n have anxiety over the same things.

[remar]

Yes, you should stop the coffee. It can be terrible for anxiety.
It's not uncommon to be anxious when it's your last year of high school and you're thinking about college.
Have you talked to your parents about how you're feeling?
Yes, it is so worth going to college and following your dreams.

[LauraPH]

Anyone?

[LauraPH]

Ah, I also drink a cup of black coffee every morning. Should I quit?

[LauraPH]

Also, when I have anxiety over my health, its normally over very minuscule things like a cold or ear infections (one of the worse for me as I have atrocious panic attacks when my ear 'pops').

Someone PLEASE tell me if theres anything I can do or anything theyve done to help them.

I have exams on Monday and I'm currently having an anxiety attack because I've only had 3 hours of sleep and won't be able to retain any of the information if I decide to study after class today (3pm) because I'm so tired.

I cannot do this anymore. I'm so tired of feeling this way.