It is normal to feel anxious when starting something new, like a university course, and everyone feels stress at difficult times of the year like exam periods or when there is a lot happening in their lives. It can sometimes be hard to relax. This activity is about helping you to manage these feelings.

Students in the Autism&Uni surveys said they found these things stressful at university:

• Choosing the right subject to study
• Group work
• Sudden changes to timetables
• Exams
• Noisy classrooms and lecture theatres
• Sensory issues
• Getting lower marks than they hoped for
• Travelling to and from university
• Fitting in
• Making presentations and talking in public

Other people on your course will probably be struggling with many of the same issues. As autistic people tend to have higher levels of anxiety than other adults, it’s important to know how to deal with these feelings.

However, it’s a good idea to have places where you can go and activities you feel comfortable doing yourself when you feel overloaded and stressed.

These activities were popular with the students and graduates in our surveys for reducing stress:

• Exercise/sport, particularly outside
• Music
• Art
• Meditation and mindfulness
• Favourite food and drink
• Chatting with family and friends
• Mentoring
• Talking to  tutors in ASC or ESW worker
• Online games or other leisure activities you enjoy.
• Download an app to help example Finch app
• breathing exercises- see below

It’s also really useful to have places where you can go if you feel overloaded or need to relax – several students said quiet places were really important to them. Here’s where they say they go:

• The library
• Student Union building
• Outside for a walk
• Green space around campus
• Quiet study rooms
• Coffee shop
• Computer rooms
• Disability service/SLL
• Maybe join the bi monthly lunch club (specially for our ND students)

1. What do you like to do at home that makes you feel relaxed?
2. What food and drink makes you feel better?
3. Who can you talk to?
4. Where can you go if you feel stressed out? Make a list of places.
5. What is your favourite form of exercise?

Togetherall

Mindfulness

ADHD Ireland | Our Mission is to make life better for people affected by ADHD  (for students that are autistic and also have ADHD)

Autisms & Uni

Academic Skills Centre SETU