Anxiety In College

Anxiety Disorders in College Students

It is not uncommon for college students to experience anxiety. It might be a condition that started in the past or developed in college. When the anxiety is at a level where it is interfering with well-being and daily functioning, a diagnosable anxiety disorder may be present.

Starting college is a time when students are at a high risk of experiencing heightened anxiety. The highest rates of anxiety in college students are seen in those just transitioning into this next step in their education. College depression and anxiety increase during the first semester of freshman year and remain high in the second semester. Although anxiety in college students is a significant problem, college campuses also offer extra resources to get help.

How Many College Students Experience Anxiety?

According to a 2022 study published by The Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, over 48% of American college students experience anxiety.

The article “Prevalence and Associated Factors of Depression and Anxiety Symptoms among College Students,” reviewed 64 existing scientific studies with a combined total of over 100,000 student research participants. According to this global-level study on the prevalence of anxiety, North American students had the highest rates compared to the rest of the world.

Challenges College Students Face

Attending college presents students with a myriad of challenges and stressors. Many first-year college students are living away from home for the first time. Not only are they apart from friends and family, but they are also in a new environment with new people and a plethora of new responsibilities. Challenges that college students face that contribute to anxiety can include:

• Feelings of homesickness
• Lack of a support system
• Social pressure
• Having a new roommate
• Academic pressure
• Difficulty concentrating
• Career uncertainty
• Finding balance between school and other aspects of life
• New relationships
• Time management
• Parental expectations
• Financial struggles
• Mental health problems
• Not knowing how to manage new feelings of anxiety

Another difficulty that college students face is health challenges. Sleep is essential for college students, yet many do not get adequate sleep, which impairs their cognitive functioning and emotional regulation. Students may also struggle to eat a balanced diet and find time for physical exercise.

Signs of an Anxiety Disorder

There are numerous signs of an anxiety disorder, and they consist of physical, mental, and behavioral symptoms.

Physical symptoms of an anxiety disorder include the following:

• Increased heart rate
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Dizziness
• Excessive sweating
• Abdominal discomfort
• Muscle tension
• Chills

Anxiety can also show up physically by causing lethargy. Conversely, trembling and feeling jittery may be experienced.

Anxiety disorders present with mental symptoms such as worry about losing control of oneself. This can include having a fear of panic attacks. Other mental symptoms are:

• Severe test anxiety
• Lowered motivation
• Procrastination
• Anticipatory anxiety
• Fear of rejection from others
• Excessive fear of offending people
• Significant anxiety in social situations

Other mental symptoms are a fear of immediate danger or death. This can lead to hypervigilance, which can have mental and physical effects.

Anxiety can lead to a variety of behavioral symptoms as well. Among these are panic attacks and avoidance of anxiety-inducing objects or situations. The following are also behavioral symptoms of anxiety:

• Decreased ability to focus
• Impairment in social interactions
• Disrupted sleep
• Worsening academic performance
• Outbursts due to irritability
• Misuse of substances

Other college student anxiety symptoms can include not wanting to go out alone and avoiding crowded places. It can also manifest in an unwillingness to participate in novel experiences.

Feeling Anxious vs. Having an Anxiety Disorder

Experiencing anxiety at times is a regular part of life. Normal bouts of anxiety are usually short-lived, situation-specific, and able to be managed without professional help. Symptoms, such as nervousness and an increased heart rate, may occur, but they are temporary and do not cause severe distress.

Anxiety disorders differ from the healthy fear and worry that everyone experiences at times. They are excessive, persistent, overwhelming, and hard to control. They interfere significantly with daily life and can last six months or longer.

There are numerous different types of anxiety disorders. These include:

• Generalized anxiety disorder
• Social anxiety disorder
• Panic disorder
• Agoraphobia
• Specific phobia
• Selective mutism
• Substance-induced anxiety disorder
• Unspecified anxiety disorder

As of the latest edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder is no longer classified as an anxiety disorder, although it does involve experiencing high anxiety. This change is due to significant differences in brain chemistry and function having been found in those with an obsessive-compulsive disorder as compared to an anxiety disorder.

It is also important that factors related to culture are accounted for in determining whether the anxiety is considered to be disruptive and excessive. If your anxiety is unmanageable and distressing to you, a mental health professional can help determine if you’re simply feeling anxious versus having a diagnosable anxiety disorder.

How to Cope with Anxiety in College

To perform well academically and improve overall well-being, it is very important that students with anxiety and stress in college learn and practice strategies to manage it.

It is helpful to be proactive in addressing the anxiety, as well as refrain from using avoidance as a coping mechanism for it. Strategies for dealing with anxiety in college include:

• Creating a manageable routine
• Getting enough sleep
• Exercising, doing yoga, and meditating
• Eating healthy foods
• Expressing gratitude
• Improving time-management skills

Participating in extracurricular activities can also be helpful. This is a good way to meet people and lessen feelings of isolation. Most colleges have many different types of groups, clubs, and on-campus special events. Having a good support system and seeing a mental health therapist can also help greatly.

Resources for College Students with Anxiety

A go-to resource for dealing with anxiety is reaching out to friends or family, as talking about what you are going through can help. If your anxiety is distressing and persistent, working with a mental health professional can be of great assistance.

Many colleges can provide students with free or low-cost counseling services, with some now offering virtual and in-person sessions. Having the option to do virtual sessions can be especially helpful, as they can be attended whether the student is on campus or back home, provided they are not attending an out-of-state school.

If you have not begun college yet but know you will want mental health therapy once you do, it can be helpful and comforting to find a therapist and have an intake session scheduled even before your first semester starts. Some students reach out to their teachers before their first classes to get a copy of each syllabus to feel more prepared. The syllabi will provide you with a timeline for when big projects are due and exams will take place. This will allow you to schedule future therapy appointments on dates you anticipate needing them the most.

To schedule a mental health therapy session, reach out to your college’s counseling center. Another option is finding an off-campus provider. You can also call your insurance company for help or search for providers on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) website. Other helpful resources are academic advisors and peer groups.

It’s important to remember that anxiety is not something you have to go through alone and getting help for it while in college can improve not just your mental and physical health but also your future achievements.