College student's stress starts because of the drastic change between high school and college compared with the pressures of academic achievement, financial issues, internships, employment, adjustment, and other problems which depends on the student. They find it hard to take in their past and new issues. Anxiety differs from each student but the stress of college causes many students to experience it even if they never had. The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) students go to Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) for help with psychological issues. This service continues to help students' year after year but people are still hesitant to talk about their problems even anxiety although many students experience it. College-related anxiety continues to increase because of how it relates to the new pressures students experience along with their own hesitancy to receive treatment.
"I get hot, my heart races, I feel like I can’t breathe (or I breathe too fast), nausea, I feel like there is this pent up energy inside me and it will not go away - often I will shake my legs to try and relieve it, but that rarely helps."
- Anonymous (Senior)
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
In college students start or continue to have mild to severe anxiety because of the sudden changes, TCNJ students are no exception. An anonymous mathematics senior said she started to notice that her anxiety increased from change and "the need to feel safe." She noticed her anxiety at age seven and has dealt with it for at least 15 years, but she started to notice the trigger when the college began. This particular student mentioned how excited she was to live on her own, but this added to the sudden change and sparked her anxiety. Another student at TCNJ, an anonymous freshman mentioned how she was excited about "independence and the freedom to make" her own choices but she mentioned how uncertain situations trigger it. This student remembers not turning in an assignment in high school because it was a group assignment and she did not consider herself proficient in the subject. Similar to the senior I interviewed they realized it at a young age though older, middle school. Also, similar to the senior they said they were not good with change so they were worried about "being stuck on campus, living with a roommate for the first time, communal bathrooms, and new professors." For many people, college is a mystery. While they have basic information, they do not know the specifics or difficulty of it until they experience it firsthand.
"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)
College student's anxiety has become very common which many studies show, one released by The American Psychological Association. Amy Novotney, a writer and communications consultant for the association provides statistics about the issues college students have that causes them to go to counseling. The chart shows that between 2007 and 2008 about 35% of students went for help because of anxiety issues. Yet, this changes to 41% in 2010 and slowly increases until it becomes 47% by 2013. The chart shows a majority of students went to counseling services because of depression which was about 39% in 2007. It decreased in 2008 then increased and decreased at an average rate between 2008-2012 then became 39% by 2013 (Novotney). The increase relates to the environmental change that must be emotional, mentally, and physically accepted.
A variety of changes from high school to college causes students to experience anxiety, yet many find it difficult to get help or talk about despite their many has a positive experience. A mathematics senior I interviewed said her counselor was a "gift from God." This student also mentioned how "doing any sort of research, reading about others, and doing groups at CAPS" helped with their anxiety. Yet they are not able to discuss it openly. They said it depends on the people and situation but still choose not provide information about their identity. The freshman, in particular, mentioned how they cannot talk about it if they were not anonymous. These two individuals met in a CAPS group but find it difficult to articulate what they go through, which accumulates their anxiety.
College students have many issues they deal with which varies from academics to personal care. Academic pressure, adjustment to college life, financial concerns, family problems, as well as the underlying psychological issues of the individual student" are some issues that cause stress and anxiety for students (Hayashino, Prince, Ratanasiripong, Sverduk). While a concrete problem that affects all students does not exist, they do form because of similar changes and concerns when it comes to college. 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 physical, emotionally, intellectually and spiritually well. Students who struggle are more likely to drop out of school…" (Novotney). While anxiety has become a common issue on college campuses people still find it difficult to talk about which affects their overall wellness that could cause them to drop out of school.
College students have many issues they deal with which varies from academics to personal care. Academic pressure, adjustment to college life, financial concerns, family problems, as well as the underlying psychological issues of the individual student" are some issues that cause stress and anxiety for students (Hayashino, Prince, Ratanasiripong, Sverduk). While a concrete problem that affects all students does not exist, they do form because of similar changes and concerns when it comes to college. 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 physical, emotionally, intellectually and spiritually well. Students who struggle are more likely to drop out of school…" (Novotney). While anxiety has become a common issue on college campuses people still find it difficult to talk about which affects their overall wellness that could cause them to drop out of school.
Anxiety for college students continues 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 with the student along with the worries of graduation.
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