Thinking and anticipating about it is always more terrifying than the reality of it. It’s very normal to feel the way you do, but when you actually get “into” it, you will find the anxiety lessen as the days go by. In the meantime, take a deep breath, step back, and look at things rationally——if you overloaded yourself, can you change it still? If you can, change your load. If you have time, it wouldn’t hurt to go visit the school if you can and meet some of the people there and talk to them. Get yourself acquainted with the ambience of the school and familiarize yourself with the lay-out of the school, the surrounding area, the people, etc. Doing so might help ease the anxiety. Don’t think about it too much. Remember what I said, the image in your mind is always scarier than the reality. Be confident, keep your head up, and go in there with a positive, happy, go-getter attitude. And remember, every other sophomore is feeling the same way you are, and will be just as nervous on his/her first day, first month. Some just hide it better than others. Lol. Smile, you’re in control.

@MRSHINYSHOES said some very good things. The worry is always worse than the reality. So the question becomes how to get rid of the worry.

There are many ways to do this. I use a breathing technique my therapist taught me to help get rid of anxiety. I hold one nostril shut while I breathe in through the open nostril, and then I slowly breathe out through my mouth and use my diaphragm to push out as much air from my lungs as possible. This helps relax your muscles and releases anxiety.

Exercise is another effective method of reducing stress. If you can, go for a brisk walk. Just walking twenty minutes three times a week will make a tremendous difference.

Clean something. I’m serious. Wash some dishes. Dust a room. Pick up and sort laundry. I know it sounds silly, but I do it, and it works. It takes my mind off the thing that is scaring it, and it puts my mind on something that I can accomplish.

Finally, remember that when you get to high school, you don’t have to have all the answers. It’s okay to ask for directions. It’s okay not to be the smartest kid in the room. It’s okay not to understand everything the teacher is talking about. You are there to learn, and you can do that if you keep yourself open and teachable.

Enjoy!

What worked for me is to see school as a place to learn and find out what one is interested in ,not a place to be tested and judged… I tried not to let my schooling interfere with my education.

Try to arrange to go to the school building early. Walk around it and find out which rooms your classes are in, where your locker is, etc.

You are imagining the unknown so it seems scarier.

Focus on the positives. Seeing friends you have missed over the summer.

Learning new stuff.

Is this college? If so, college professors expect you to have read the first chapter(s) before you come to class. Get those chapters read (which will mean getting the books ASAP. Then begin reading ahead.

This is a constructive way to prepare yourself and lessen the initial load at the same time.

If this is high school, ask the school if you can do this. Who knows? Maybe they’ll issue you a book early?

Why, specifically, are you so worried? Are you taking very hard classes this year? Which ones? Can you switch out of any of them? Your health (physical, because anxiety is hard on the body, and obviously mental as well) is much more important than being in the most advanced classes possible. Give me some more detail and I’ll try and help you calm down.

I just checked with a large private school. They’ll happily issue a book early should a student choose to start studying early.

Thank you guys sooo much!

I get really anxious about just about everything, regardless of how insignificant or far off it is. I just try to remind myself that the worst things possible will probably not happen, and even if the worst case scenario does happen, freaking out about it now won’t help, it’ll just prolong my troubles. Just try to keep in mind that what you’re worrying about will pass, and until it does, you’re only upsetting yourself by focusing on it. Good luck with your first day back! I’m sure it’ll go well.