The Jed Foundation

Colleges are designed to be challenging academically, personally, and socially. Some anxiety is a natural by-product of the accelerated pace of learning and growth. To be sure, everyone feels anxious in certain situations, but anxiety disorders can make it difficult for students to function.

Anxiety is a feeling of worry that can be a completely normal response to stress. However, it can also be out of proportion to what’s going on or be impossible to control. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illnesses in the US. Anxiety can feel so overwhelming that a person’s ability to work, study, interact with people, or follow a daily routine is affected.

Contrary to what prior generations of your family may have believed, anxiety disorders are not “all in one’s head.” Anxiety can be a real medical condition, developing from a complex set of biological and environmental factors, including genetics, biochemistry and traumatic life events.
Fortunately, it is possible to manage anxiety with counseling and/or medication.

Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety Disorders

• Intense episodes of fear or panic
• Recurring nightmares
• Avoidance of social situations
• Difficulty concentrating
• Repeated, unwanted thoughts (obsessions)
• Sleep disturbances
• Upsetting, intrusive memories of a traumatic event
• Physical symptoms such as nausea, stomach pain, rapid heart rate, muscle tension, sweating, shaking, dizziness, numbness, or difficulty breathing

Connect to more information on diagnosing and treating anxiety disorders through our resources and links section.

Learn more about other common emotional disorders and their warning signs:

•         Depression
•         Bipolar Disorder
•         Eating Disorders
  
•         Substance Abuse
•         Cutting or Self-Injury