Managing Anxiety and Stress in the Post-Grad World
For many people, the transition from student to full-time worker can be very difficult. As a 20-something year old with little to no experience outside of being a student, figuring out what is next can be daunting. Early life crisis? …Yikes. Rarely are graduates prepared ahead of time to navigate the workforce, housing, student loans (ugh), and all of the other uncertainties that life brings. All of a sudden you go from a college student just trying to make it through finals to a post-grad adult that is juggling housing, moving, job hunting, relationships, and finances all at once. This journey can be very lonely and isolating for many, especially if they are feeling uncertain about the career path their degree is taking them in.
For some, the anxiety and stress can become all consuming, and that worry may become unbearable. For those who have not experienced stress or anxiety, these symptoms and their effects may go undetected until they are causing undeniable harm. If you are questioning what these symptoms can look like I will have some listed below.
Symptoms of anxiety and stress can look like:
Racing thoughts about the future, the unknown
Rapid Heartbeat
Gastrointestinal Issues
Trembling or shaking
Fatigue
Changes in Appetite
Sleep Disturbances
Shortness of Breath
Please also take note that everyone's stress and anxiety manifests in different ways. You may have some of these symptoms or none of them, this is just a brief list to point out common physical and mental manifestations of anxiety and stress.
As the days and weeks go on after graduation the pressure begins to mount. Interviews happen, just to not receive a call back. The bills start to roll in and you begin to worry how you’re going to pay them and Lord knows you don’t want to have to ask your parents for money. As a recent graduate myself, I know first hand how hard this transition can be. After my third interview I started to worry about if I would ever find a job as I was watching others I graduated with post their new jobs on Linkedin. I started to stress over finances, and I couldn’t even find the mental capacity to think about my student loans. Thankfully, I had support around me during this time. The community I had formed with my cohort helped me realize that a lot of other people had the same thoughts I did, and it was okay to lean onto them for support. Unfortunately for others though, this may not be an option.
That's why since coming into my new role as an Outpatient Therapist at Whole Mentality, I wanted my first ever support group to be focused around supporting new graduates in this time of their life. Having a community of people around you can lessen your stress, worry, anxiety, and isolation. To have others around you going through similar circumstances can help this world feel a little less lonely. To have a Therapist in the room *virtual or in person* offering support, resources, and skills can make this transition a little more manageable.
If you are a person who just graduated and is wondering wtf is going on, and is anyone else feeling like you please feel free to reach out to me. Your feelings are valid, you are doing the best you can, and yes we are all also wondering wtf is going on. You are not alone.
