How To Beat 'First Week' Social Anxiety

This one goes out to all the worriers, over-thinkers, and stress balls out there. Because I know the fear of embarking on such a huge adventure, with so many unknowns lurking in the future, I want to give you some advice that I developed from my time abroad. Specifically, I want to help with that first week social anxiety, where everything is brand new and at its scariest.

The basic principle of everything I am going to suggest is to put yourself out there. I know, that sounds terrifying too, but trust me when I say it's the simplest thing you can do to ease your transition into your program. When your session is just beginning, everyone is brand new to the experience- just like you -and everyone is feeling the exact same way you are: nervous. So making connections with the people in your program, whether its your housing neighbors, roommates, fellow interns, or classmates, is the best way to feel more secure in a brand new environment. If anything- use your nervousness as a common thread to get to know people! Like I said, everyone studying abroad will be feeling some degree of uncertainty, so why not talk about it? Not only will you feel better, but the peer you confide in will too.

A great way to make those connections, especially if you aren't great at starting up conversations, is to utilize social media. If there is a way to join a group page or chat from your program before the start of the session, you can use that as a way to get to know your future peers. If there isn't one available prior to being abroad, create one there or suggest it to one of your program advisors. That way everyone in your program will be connected digitally, and you can join in on various outings posted to it, such as going sight-seeing or out for meals.

Leaning on your program is another great way to feel more at home during that first week. Keep your eye out for any extracurricular clubs or activities that your program may offer, the majority of which do, for ways to meet new people and bond with your peers. They also help to create connections with your program faculty, which is a great thing to do. The classroom can be another place to find friends, as it is your basic common ground in the experience. Offering to study with people or join them on class trips can be a simple yet effective way to gain an ally.

Basically, do not hole up in your room. Though that may feel like the natural response to first week anxiety, this will only make it worse. Instead, take that nervous energy and use it to bond with the people around you who feel the same way. If you're going to participate in a once in a lifetime experience, you may as well jump at every opportunity it offers you. If you don't open yourself up to the scary and unfamiliar, you won't get a chance to reap the benefits of doing so. (You've got this.)