Tips to Beat Anxiety in Law School

Everyone experiences anxiety from time to time. And it’s certainly normal to experience occasional anxiety in law school with being called on for class, taking exams, or doing any type of public speaking. But people with an anxiety disorder face feelings of worry or fear that can completely disrupt their school, work, or family life. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, there are three kinds of anxiety disorders: generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and social anxiety disorder. Treatments include talk therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, self-help or support groups, stress management techniques, or medication. The CSU Counseling Center or another mental health care provider can help diagnose and treat anxiety disorders.

There are plenty of tips to alleviate anxiety – (for example here, here and here), and these ideas can probably be used to help with garden-variety anxiety as well as the more debilitating kind. Here are some things to consider now:

• If you’re in law school, you might be a perfectionist — a regular type-A personality. If that’s the case, try relaxing some of your rigidly high expectations for yourself, and celebrate the successes you’ve had so far in your law school career and in your life in general.
• Again, if you’re in law school, you might be particularly risk-adverse. This is certainly a common trait among lawyers. If so, try doing something adventurous once a week. This might help you feel more comfortable with uncertainty and with not being in total control of everything around you.
• As hard as it might sound at times, limit alcohol and caffeine – both have been shown to aggravate anxiety or cause panic attacks.
• Even when law school seems to keep piling things on your plate, take time to get a little exercise each day and a good night’s sleep. Sometimes this alone is enough to knock out stress and anxiety.