• Social anxiety is a long-term, overwhelming fear of social situations. Joining university is a dream for many students but after joining university, there is so much pressure to fit in, engage in social activities, or even participating in class, which can trigger feelings of self-doubt and nervousness. However, with the right tactics, students can manage anxiety.

Social anxiety is a long-term, overwhelming fear of social situations. Joining university is a dream for many students but after joining university, there is so much pressure to fit in, engage in social activities, or even participating in class, which can trigger feelings of self-doubt and nervousness. However, with the right tactics, students can manage anxiety.

Firstly, try to understand your triggers. Social anxiety can stem from various triggers, such as public speaking or even social situations. This will help take steps to improve the situation.

Secondly, join school clubs and societies. Find what fits best for you whether it is music or sports. Participating in such activities will help take your mind off the fact that it is a social situation since you are doing something you love. It will also help to network and find a great family you can belong in.

Furthermore, evaluate yourself after a long day of tasks. Question yourself about what you may have learned in a lesson, meeting or after a conversation with someone. If a mistake was made during the conversation, don't look down on yourself. Ignore the negatives; focus on the positives. Probably, the person did not even notice the mistake you are so caught up in.

In addition, form specific friend groups with people you are familiar with; people you can be comfortable with enough to discuss certain issues that may affect your mental, social and physical health.

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Step out of your comfort zone. Anxiety tends to attack us if we keep being afraid to get out of an uncomfortable situation. To combat this, try to tackle the problem at hand.

In the case of class presentations, take deep breaths before the presentation. Practise for whatever topic you are going to speak about. Maintain eye contact with one identified friend in the audience to reduce tension.

While it can feel isolating, it is important to remember that social anxiety is not a barrier to connection but can be managed by identification, networking and many more.