Stress Center Peer Support

hi everyone,

I'm going back to school tomorrow. I haven't been in school for about 6 years. I'm 24 now, and I"m soo nervous. I'm not taking a lot of classes, but I'm taking some music classes to start. I've been sick the past week or so with a sinus infection and it kind of went away and now I feel like I have a cold, accompanied with a horrific cold sore on my mouth(gross, I know)-due to my immune system trying to recover...it's completely embarassing. I'm really nervous about school tomorrow, I don't want to be sick and with a gross cold sore on my mouth. I wanted to start school feeling great. I had anxiety about school for starters but now that I feel like this it's even worse. Being sick creates a lot of anxiety..I'm sure you all know that. The thing is, whenever I was in school before I was always sick and that's one of the reasons I stopped going, and now I'm starting and before I even get there I'm sick! It's really depressing me and creating anxiety for me. Does anyone have any suggestions for me to relax with this and accept it? Anything is much appreciated. Thanks so much.

im really proud of you for going back to school. good job! that takes amazing courage. i teach and have had many older students and trust me you won't stick out. They won't even know you are older, except maybe you will be more mature
everyone is nervous -- think of all the freshmen... you'll get through it. just breathe and think you are taking control of your life!
good job!!!!!

Also-- although we all want to start school without anxiety and feeling great-- it's a major major major source of anxiety it's completely natural for you to be anxious! totally. it's ok. you will survive. you will deal with this. don't worry about the cold sore. i know it seems like everyone will be staring at it bec you are focused on it but they probably won't even notice and even if they do it will jsut be like oh a cold sore yeah i hate it also when i get them...
you can't help the cold sore. just smile and people wont even notice

Thanks so much for the encouragement cactus..I really needed that! It has taken a lot out of me to work up the courage to even decide to go, but I'm going to go, and I'll have fun. Thanks again for responding. Your kind words have helped me out.