Imagine you’re walking home from class. It’s warm and sunny, and you have no other commitments for the day other than climbing into bed and binging your favorite show, yet you feel like you’re being stalked by a giant storm cloud. This feeling is familiar to myself, and to the majority of college students who suffer from anxiety.
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According to an article by Psychology Today, college students are experiencing a mental health crisis. This crisis, according to Dr. Gregg Henriques, refers to two facts: significant numbers of college students experience mental health problems, and over the past two decades, there has been a large increase in the demand for mental health services on campuses everywhere. It’s crucial now more than ever that we talk about anxiety in college.
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It’s important to note that there is a disparity between general feelings of anxiety and having an anxiety disorder. A healthy amount of anxiety is normal, and it often occurs in response to a stressor, such as an exam, or an upcoming interview. If you suffer from an anxiety disorder, however, you feel anxious most of the time, and are unable to identify a trigger. Physical symptoms also accompany anxiety disorders. One may experience dizziness, sweating, shaking, increased heart rate, and nausea. Having an anxiety disorder affects your entire life.
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Her Campus is helping to continue the conversation by publishing a collection of articles written by real college students who have experienced anxiety. In addition, Her Campus conducted two voluntary, anonymous surveys with readers to help learn more about college students who suffer from anxiety. Some of the results were shocking. 51% of respondents say that they have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, and 88% of readers say their anxiety has affected their ability to carry on with their daily life. Both of these percentages are far too high.
I myself am among those who have been diagnosed with GAD (generalized anxiety disorder). I often find myself feeling anxious for no reason, or worrying about when my next panic attack will strike. My anxiety is debilitating: going to class is sometimes next to impossible, and activities I used to enjoy feel draining. Luckily, I am able to turn to the support of my family and friends in addition to Suffolk University’s mental health services. They provide appointments with social workers who are dedicated to helping you find help. I see a therapist on a weekly basis, as well as a psychiatrist, both of whom have helped me vastly improve my quality of life.
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Not all college students are as fortunate as I am. There are many schools that do not have adequate mental health resources for students; coloring books, visits from therapy dogs, and free snacks are simply not enough. One third of readers polled in Her Campus’s survey feel as though their university does not have sufficient mental health resources. Contrary to the popular belief of older generations, college students are not cry-babies who can’t handle a little bit of pressure. They are human beings who are being put under immense amounts of stress, and institutions must start doing more to support their students.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255).