Anxiety Treatment for College Students

Anxiety is a natural response to stress and has been explained as “the body’s automatic fight-or-flight response that is triggered when you feel threatened, under pressure, or are facing a challenging situation...”

While fleeting anxiety is normal, persistent and debilitating symptoms of anxiety are not. A college student may be struggling with an anxiety disorder when it interferes with their ability to function in daily life. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) asserts: “Anxiety disorders are a group of related conditions, each having unique symptoms. However, all anxiety disorders have one thing in common: persistent, excessive fear or worry in situations that are not threatening.” There are currently five distinct types of anxiety disorders listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) including generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and social anxiety disorder (also known as social phobia). According to Johns Hopkins Medicine anxiety disorders affect up to 18% of the population, making it the most common mental health condition in the United States.

Symptoms of Anxiety in College Students

Anxiety can manifest in different ways for each person, and it’s important to recognize the signs early on. Common symptoms of anxiety in college students include:

Excessive worrying or feeling overwhelmed by everyday tasks

Difficulty concentrating or focusing on schoolwork

Trouble sleeping or experiencing frequent insomnia

Physical symptoms like headaches, nausea, muscle tension, or a rapid heartbeat

Avoiding social situations or classes due to fear or anxiety

Feeling restless, irritable, or on edge

Panic attacks or episodes of intense fear

If left untreated, anxiety can negatively impact academic performance, social relationships, and overall well-being. Fortunately, there are several effective treatment options available to help college students manage their anxiety and regain control of their lives.

What To Do

Effective coping mechanisms and anxiety management strategies can help to prevent, reduce, manage, and even become more resilient towards anxiety. Consider the following suggestions and simple tips to help relieve symptoms of anxiety:

1. Breathe: focus on slowing down your breath to help pull your attention away from your symptoms of anxiety

2. Explore relaxation methods: try tactics like meditation, journaling, listening to music, etc.

3. Exercise: regular exercise can not only help you remain physically fit, but also provides a natural release of endorphins, elevating your mood.

4. Get creative: engaging in creativity can be an excellent emotional outlet; consider taking a painting class, try out ceramics, take a cooking class, etc.

5. Focus on external stimuli: look around you and notice tangible items in your surroundings; this can be both grounding and helpful in gaining perspective over your anxiety.

6. Acknowledge your feelings: by acknowledging and naming your feelings you can help diffuse your anxiety—it won’t last forever..

7. Seek additional support: discover more ways to manage your anxiety through individualized mental health treatment with a therapist

We’re here to help

We are in-network with most insurance plans and offer flexible insurance-paid treatment solutions. Call 888.224.2836 anytime.

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Formal Treatment

There are a variety of approaches to treating young adults with an anxiety disorder, and there are different types of therapeutic modalities that may be integrated into one’s treatment plan, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), expressive arts therapy, and interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT). In addition to therapy, some college students diagnosed with an anxiety disorder may benefit from taking medication. The different types of medications prescribed for anxiety disorders include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) and norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs). Any young person in treatment for an anxiety disorder will benefit most from a nuanced treatment plan that carefully incorporates the best possible therapeutic methods and are specifically geared to each individual’s needs.

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Are you or someone you know struggling with anxiety during college?

Contact The Haven at College today to learn more about our treatment programs specifically designed for college students.