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Anxiety can stem from numerous things. However, most often it is a product of stress. In the case of college students, stress built anxiety has become the most popular rationale for seeking help. About one in eight undergraduate students pursue counseling for stress-related issues while in college. This is a recognizable boost from the past when less students sought counseling. Often there is a stigma attached to the idea of getting help from a counselor. Therefore, less students seek help than they should, viewing their illness as a cause of weakness.

Based on a survey of about 19,000 students, about ten percent of them had seriously considered suicide because the blues was too much for them to cope with. Also, about forty percent of these pupils reported that they felt so depressed it was difficult for them to function in class on at least one occasion. Anxiety can lead to skin conditions, digestive disorders and intensified asthmatic reactions. In fact, these risks may be heightened according to the way that anxiety was triggered toward the student.

The various social hierarchies that assist in the development of identity for an individual in college may also pose stress. They may feel inhibited in their social reactions with others
and build anxiety due to this fact. It produces hormones which can change brain activity. This may cause one to perceive themselves as inadequate among peers. Also, it may lead to social phobia which could cause the individual to retract into their shell and avoid most social situations.

Alcohol poses detriment to the advancement of students who may suffer from anxiety as well. This 'drug' affects the brain in a way that can make stress much harder to handle. Along with that, not having enough sleep is dangerous for the mental health of a college student. General habits like watching t.v., using computers and certainly pulling all-nighters for exams can raise a pupils' vulnerability to depression. The students that would be most vulnerable to this type of stress would be those that are being treated for mental disorders.

Ways to one should cope with anxiety in college are speaking to a counselor or religious leader. One can take deep breaths and meditate when feeling down. Also, one can retrain their though process. By this I mean that they may be able to find out what triggers the anxiety and have POSITIVE coping statements ready to handle the situation:

1. My feelings are not always rational, I'm going to be alright

2. This picture in my head is bad, I'm going to focus on _____________________.

3. I have stopped my negative thoughts and I'm going to try again.

These are just examples, but you get the point. You can make your own statements applicable to yourself as long as they remain POSITIVE.

Whether it's reading a term paper in front of the class that gets us down or breaking up with our high school sweetheart, there is no clear cut way to determine whether anxiety is severe in one's life until it is too late. Using these methods can definitely save a headache and maybe even a doctor's visit if the student may recognize the problem as it is and not as a detrimental Achilles Heel.

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