I cannot really give you the reassurance that you are looking for since I'm still going through all this myself. But I want to write anyhow because your experiences are so similar to mine.

Quote Originally Posted by ss_worrier View Post
What's happened is that I've started dedicating way too much time to studying this particular course -- probably about five or ten times as much as my classmates -- just out of fear of failing. Meanwhile the other exchange students where I'm at are actually having fun, partying, hanging out and just relaxing, but I'm too afraid of failing to let myself give priority to actually living.
That's the exact situation that I am in. And you are right, knowing in your head that these fears are irrational doesn't do much... Sometimes saying mantras over and over helps me to stay in reality, for example: "I will survive if I get a B, it's not the end of the world. I don't have to be perfect, I don't have to prove anything to anyone. I won't fail this class, and even if I did - life would go on." As for medication, I'm on antidepressants and my doctor chose one that helps with anxiety as well. I noticed that I'm a bit more "stable" with it, but ultimately the skills to overcome a panic attack are more important for me.

I cannot tell you that it will end, but it does get better. I haven't had much anxiety in the last year, it just started again with the semester abroad. Maybe we can both give ourselves credit for taking that challenge at all, and accept that (a sound measure of) fear is normal in a foreign country with everything new and our usual support system missing? In my experience it only makes matters worse if I get angry at myself for being afraid or insecure... Please let me know if you have found anything that helps you with the pressure and the fear of failure, I'm still looking myself.