Anxiety in College Students
Written by Avonley Whitsitt, MA, MFTI, February 7, 2024
Any life transition can spark intense emotions. Anxiety is a visceral emotion I commonly see with my college-age clients. Anxiety is defined as “an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts, and physical changes like increased blood pressure” (1). Many clients are leaving home for the first time, and entering a lot of new experiences.
I remember walking on to the Boise State University campus for the first time and feeling so many different emotions at once (picture below). I felt nervous about my classes and sad about leaving old friends behind. My heart beat heavy in my chest. A study done in 2023 found that “the prevalence of anxiety disorders among college students was over 39%” (2). Anxiety can manifest in so many different ways. For some people, this might be a “frog in the throat” feeling and for others it could be constant worry and control-seeking tendencies. Some people may feel that something isn’t quite right, but may not be able to figure out what it is. Although these feelings are normal in times of transition, they can feel isolating.
Me in 2017 on my first day at Boise State University:
Nervous.
Excited.
Unsure.
A mix of emotions!
There are many different treatments for anxiety. My approach is to focus first on symptom reduction. This involves collaborating with my clients to discover what coping skills work best for them. Every person is unique. Coping skills could include breathing deeply, journaling, talking with a friend, or walking on the greenbelt. There are different kinds of coping skills, such as self-soothing, distraction, opposite action, emotional awareness, and mindfulness. Once we have collaboratively figured out how to cope with life’s current stressors, we can get to the “meat of the issue” or make adjustments that create lasting change. This is where Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can be beneficial.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an approach for treating anxiety. CBT addresses negative patterns and distortions in the way we look at the world and at ourselves. One kind of cognitive distortion is “black and white thinking.” This involves being unable to see the “gray area.” An example of this in college age students could be, “If I don’t pass this test, I won’t ever earn my degree.” Through CBT, I guide the client through discovering how their thoughts fuel their anxiety. Together, we will examine behavior and what changes can be made to positively impact the way you feel.
Therapy is not one size fits all. These are just a few of the tools I have for treating anxiety in my clients. In session, we will discover the right treatment plan and tailor it to you, whether that is CBT, as described above, or another approach such as Emotionally Focused Therapy, Narrative Therapy, or Bowen Theory. You aren’t alone; we will find something that helps. If you are experiencing anxiety, we can work through symptom reduction together.
References:
American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Anxiety. American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org
Liu, X.-Q., Guo, Y.-X., & Xu, Y. (2023). Risk factors and digital interventions for anxiety disorders in college students: Stakeholder perspectives. World Journal of Clinical Cases, 11(7), 1442–1457. https://doi.org/10.12998/wjcc.v11.i7.1442
