What Increases Anxiety?
Although anxiety differs from each individual and can be triggered from different things, certain events,
history, relations, and more affect each student.
Grades
Current Year
(fresh.Soph.Jun.Sen.)
Heredity
Major
Expectations
Presentations
New people/environment
Employment
Uncertainity
While grades can affect someone's anxiety their anxiety can
also effect their grades which results in a constant cycle.
"There are days (or weeks or semesters) when it is
just so bad that I can tell my grades are being
affected because I'm not sleeping and not
focused on my school work."
- Anonyous (Senior)
When students attend college, the sudden environmental and academic change results in an increase in mental issues, specifically anxiety. Whether they are far or close to home the change in academic expectancy increases which can be determined by their family, friends, and financial aid. Since college has become a necessity to obtain a decent job, students are pressured to not only get into college but do additional actions that will put them above their fellow students. With the pressures of grades, connections, additional activities, internships, and overall employment today a large number of college students has anxiety that affects them in their everyday life. The trigger differs from each person but many times people will start to experience anxiety in college if they haven’t before. Yet, many are unwilling to discuss it with others even though it’s common on college campuses. Support from CAPS and others who have a similar problem has a large part to combat anxiety and overcome it. The increase in college-related anxiety relates to the sudden change students experience along with their educational and academic background which can be combated because of its common occurrence on college campuses. 
apa.org
Mental health disorders have become a common occurrence throughout the years, especially anxiety which continues to increase. The American Psychological Association released a story by Amy Novotney, a writer, and communications consultant, the provides statistics on what mental illnesses have increased. The chart shows an increase in the depression between 2012 and 2013. Between 2007 and 2013 anxiety has continued to increase with a noticeable increase between 2012 and 2013. Many colleges share their information of what percentage of their students have graduated. This information is important because people believe while people may start college, it is not common to finish it. This ranges from different reasons but many times it is a combination of issues that cause the student severe anxiety and fear. Louise Douce, Ph.D., special assistant to the vice president of student life at Oho State University states that “For students to be able to learn at their peak capacity, they need to be physically, emotionally, intellectually and spiritually well. Students who struggle are more likely to drop out of school…” (Novotney). While there is not a concrete problem it’s that all their issues form similar symptoms that came with anxiety.
Just talking it out too with
others too" [anxiety]."
- Anonymous (Senior)
"What can Help?"
- Breathing
"At its worst [anxiety] sweating, feeling like I can't breathe, shaking, crying, can't focus on literally anything."- Anonymous (Senior)
- Speaking up
"Reading about others and realizing that I'm not alone with my anxiety."- Anonymous (Senior)
- Keeping Busy
"Breathing exercises and keeping a busy schedule has helped my anxiety."Anonymous (freshman)
- Sleep
"Absolutely. There are days (or weeks or semesters) when it is just so bad that I can tell my grades are being affected because I'm not sleeping and not focused on my school work."- Anonymous (Senior)
"My therapist. She's a gift from god." - Anonymous (Senior)
Anxiety throughout colleges has affected students who complete their degree and while this is not uncommon people are not aware of how many actually go to psychological services. A councilor at TCNJ mentions how they have 100’s of students each semester goes to CAPS, totally for about 700 students a year. A senior, who prefers to remain anonymous refers to her counselor as a “gift from God.” She also mentioned how she has taken multiple CAP groups and highly recommend it. She started to notice her anxiety at a young age, about seven and has dealt with it for at least 15 years. A major component of her anxiety is change and the need to feel safe. Of course, she became more aware of this after she began college because of the drastic change in her environment. Many students are excited about indolence when they start college another person I interviewed, a freshman who wants to remain anonymous said she was excited about “independence and the freedom to make my own choices.” Yet, this contributes to a large amount of anxiety.
Student’s grades are their overall concern, the letter grade they get determines what college they go to, the school’s performance, sometimes their financial situation, and more. The two students I interviewed mentioned how their anxiety has affected their grades. A freshman mentions how she has “omitted completion of assignments in high school that involved presentations or showing something that I was not proficient in.” She also mentioned how she “Wasn’t sure how” her participation would affect her grade. When people start college, they are unaware of what to expect overall, though they do have some information. A senior I interviewed mentioned specifically that her anxiety affects her sleep and her capability to focus, which affected her academically. Many times, anxiety may not have a direct relation to issues students have but it does have a dominos effect overall.
- Anonymous (Senior)
The affected anxiety has on college students continue to grow along with expectations and necessities to obtain employment. Since college itself is a large change it causes many different thoughts for the student which sometimes causes overthinking. This adds more to their anxiety and fear about the future. Many times college is seen as an escape, a new place to experiment and have fun but the reality of college catches up to the student pretty quick along with what they will have to worry about when they graduate.
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