With winter graduations approaching those all over the nation, many graduates are faced with having to handle the existentialism of built up stress and anxiety regarding their future. While the milestone and great achievement that is graduation should be celebrated and shrouded in joy, it instead is faced with dread as the fear of the unknown and sense of insecurity combined has taken over.

This sense of loss and confusion seems to only intensify as job markets have become more constrained, emotions are often being questioned, and the overwhelming sense of doubt appears to loom over as we have stayed indoors for what has seemed to be a century. Finding coping methods to shut out these negative thoughts, is a mental health journey in itself, but in the end, proves to develop individual health for the better.

Where Do I Start? Why Should I Start?

The broad question that is often brought to everyone’s mind when contemplating their own issues in terms of overwhelming anxiety and stress is where to start in terms of seeking help or if they actually need help. This is a question that with its vast nature, comes with answers that are going to vary in nature between individuals. However, when establishing a coping method it is important to sit down and acknowledge the validity of your emotions as this time has become immensely difficult for everyone and many may think that these emotions are just passing, not valid compared to larger scare issues surrounding the pandemic, or possibly an over exaggeration when in actuality these thoughts and emotions that are being experienced are real, valid, and can very much be helped.

When acknolwedging the validity of your experiences, this can be a great starting point as this reflection leads to further elaboration of coping exercises and possible therapy exploration to manage stress and anxiety during this rite of passage in a young adult’s life. However, with the endorsement of having to be constantly productive by the social culture in the generations of Gen Z and Millennial college graduates, many may feel as though they do not have the time to take care of themselves without feeling as though they need to be doing something that fits into the cultural mold. This in turn, can possibly lead to more harmful effects of developed stress and anxiety as the proper care and coping methods are not being utilized, thus, leading to a build up that can affect the functioning of the human body mentally and physically.

Exploring Coping Methods for Stress and Anxiety

As mentioned before, many recent college graduates may feel as though taking time for themselves is not as necessary or important as securing a position post graduation or getting into graduate school. Because of this, they tend to shy away from exercising coping strategies as they may feel it takes too much time away, thus causing more stress. This preoccupation with maintaining productivity and contributing to struggle culture overshadows an important note to keep in mind; there is no set or defined coping strategy or method for a certain issue as coping can be found in anything. For those who may thrive off of organization and activity, a coping method that could aid in any post graduation worry could be making a list of living situations that would best suit you or making an activity out of job hunting and graduate school personal statement writing. This then allows productivity while relieving stress in a healthy and organized manner.

Of course, this is just a suggested method for those who may feel as though they need a bit more structure in their coping and overall mental health journey. When it comes to coping, the main focus should be to manage, maintain, and grow in terms of your character and your mental health. Which is why, the exploration portion of coping and healing is integral to overall development as we truly never know what does and does not work for us unless we try. The commonly suggested methods such as taking up a new hobby to express inner emotions or exercising to relieve stress and recuperate from being overworked are a wonderful place to start for those who need more of a break from being constantly on the go and can have as much of an effect on overall confidence and happiness as more directed methods.  A combination of the two for those who would still enjoy the free spirited approach of exploring new pursuits while having a set structure would be the utilization of mental health apps such as Mood Mission where different tasks relating to your wellness are given to you with in-app positive reinforcement. Some tasks are conceptual based that may involve thinking about how college has shaped and impacted you as a person or activity based such as doing something for pure enjoyment like knitting. This is just one of the many apps and ways to use the technological aspects of our life to help us grow and progress towards serenity and happiness.

Remembering the Importance of Yourself and Individual Positive Attributes

At the end of the day, the main focus is yourself, and after all of the hard work and dedication that has been put into your college career, you deserve to celebrate and go forth to do what makes you happy. Graduating college is a rite of passage within itself and an achievement nonetheless. While the state of our current society may have changed the way we celebrate, it did not take away the significance of this moment in life. It is more than okay to not have an immediate plan after graduation and it is also common occurrence in this day and age to have possible job offers or transitions to be halted. To feel disappointed to grieve a sense of loss of opportunity or fulfilment because of these changes in plans is very valid and it is important to know that experiencing these difficult emotions is a natural response as part of our human nature.

Take the time to cope, relax, and reflect on your accomplishments. Recognize the resilience you have within yourself as it truly does and will get better as time goes on. It is important to know that every part of yourself is important, including taking care of your mental health.