As someone who has dealt with varying levels of social anxiety from a very young age, moving to Queen's from my home in England was something that at times I wasn't sure I would be able to deal with. But just over a year later, I absolutely love it here and am incredibly glad that I made the jump. There are many things that have helped me get there, so I am here to share my experiences and advice with anyone who may be in a similar situation.

Even after preparing myself for the difficulties I knew I would face, the first few weeks of my first year were difficult and I didn't do nearly as much socialising as I had hoped. My anxiety levels were very high after moving in, and it was frustrating to keep having to step back because everything was overwhelming. But looking back, I recognise that it didn't matter a whole lot in the grand scheme of things. The freshers’ period is a great time to make new friends and get involved in lots of things, but it is not everything! Say yes to as much as you can, but it is perfectly okay if that is only a few socials here and there at first.

What do GB students think of Queen's?

Social events are not the only ways to meet people

In one of my first ever lectures, I was too nervous to talk to the person sitting next to me (a tip for making friends that you will often hear), but the next day we met again on a field trip, and found out we were doing the same (very small) course as well as living in the same accommodation building! We walked back from the field trip together that day, and have been very close friends ever since.

Always be open to meeting others in all contexts, anywhere from people in your course to people you come across while waiting for a lift!

Be open to meeting people in all contexts

Focus on finding ways to deal with anxiety in a healthy way

Starting university was definitely not the impossible feat that I thought it would be, but it was also not an easy experience, and I still face many challenges with it. So something that is important to me is focusing on smaller things that can improve my day-to-day life. For me, this largely involves engaging with hobbies such as reading, crocheting, and playing the piano, but for you it might be practising mindfulness through meditation or yoga, or taking part in sports.

Exercise in general is super important for dealing with anxiety - if you are staying in Queen's Accommodation, make the most of your free gym membership! Even going for a nice walk (two of my favourite spots being Botanic Gardens and Ormeau Park) can do wonders.

Take a wellbeing walk through Botanic Gardens

Don't be afraid to seek support

Within the University there is so much support available for people with anxiety, such as free counselling, wellbeing drop-in sessions, and online resources among other things. Talking to the Student Wellbeing Service at the beginning of the year gave me a lot of peace of mind, and they were also able to help me access external support which was incredibly helpful.

I would always recommend talking to friends and/or family, both at university and back home, about what you are dealing with. Just having people around you who are aware of the things you struggle with can have such a positive impact!

Avail of the Queen's Student Wellbeing Service!

Take your time, and go easy on yourself!

A common saying in the topic of starting university is that "everyone is in the same boat." Although this is true in some ways, it can sometimes be frustrating to hear when you know that having social anxiety can often add another level of difficulty. This of course doesn't mean that anyone with social anxiety is automatically going to find the transition harder than anyone without it, but it's important to not force yourself to go at the same pace as everyone else.

Shifting my mindset in this way has meant that I went from starting my first year terrified that I was going to be miles behind everyone else, to starting my second year knowing that I am happy to go at my own pace.

There are many other tips I could give, such as joining societies and attending your school's welcome events, but my main advice would be to take it one step at a time and never be afraid to ask for help. The university experience has undoubtedly been different for me than it would have been without social anxiety, but this isn't a wholly bad thing. Trying new things while also looking after yourself is a difficult balance to strike, but with the right support it is 100% possible.

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Study Anthropology and Archaeology at Queen's

Information for GB students

Tiana Falla Anthropology and Archaeology  | Undergraduate Student | Buckinghamshire, England I’m Tiana, and I'm in my second year studying Anthropology and Archaeology. I am currently the Wellbeing Officer on the committee for the Archaeology Society, as well as a member of a few others. I am in Elms BT1 this year, after living in BT2 last year, and I’m from Buckinghamshire in Southeast England. After finishing my A Levels, I took a year out of education before coming to university where I worked as an English and Maths tutor - a job that I thoroughly enjoyed! In my spare time I love to read, crochet, and play the piano, and one of my favourite things to do is go for a long walk while listening to a podcast. I have loved my time at Queen’s so far, and living in Belfast is a great experience. When weather permits, I always love sitting on a bench in Botanic Gardens with a book and enjoying the view. As a GB student, it was intimidating to make the decision to move all the way here for uni, but I’m so glad I did!