Your first days in college may bring a combination of excitement and nervousness. Will you be able to find the right classrooms? What will your professors be like? Will you connect with your classmates? It might feel a bit like your first day of high school. You’re at a unique point in your life where you suddenly have more independence — and more responsibility. You’re also getting used to a brand-new social environment. It’s totally understandable that some new feelings and new mental health symptoms might come up. With some help, you can gain some valuable experience as you navigate these challenges that will serve you throughout your adult life. In this article, we’ll outline seven common types of college students’ mental health challenges and provide solutions on how to overcome them.
What kinds of mental health challenges do college students face?
Your brain is still going through important developmental changes through your early 20s, so that’s an important reason why people often notice mental health challenges for the first time in college. Living away from home for the first time and taking on more responsibility as an adult can both bring out mental health symptoms as well. Anxiety and depression are the most common mental health conditions, but they can look a lot different from person to person. High expectations for your academic performance, past traumatic experiences, relationship struggles and other types of mental health conditions can also play a role.
7 common types of mental health challenges college students may face
If you’re considering mental health care for the first time, you’re not alone. Recent polls have shown a consistently high need for mental health care among college students. As many as 78% to more than 80% of college students need help managing their symptoms. Though more people are talking about their mental health than in years past, there’s still a lot of stigma around mental health conditions in certain communities. Many students don’t know what kinds of resources to look for, and in some places, it can be hard to find a therapist who doesn’t have a waiting list.
You should know that struggling with your mental health doesn’t change who you are, and it doesn’t mean there’s something “wrong” with you. With the right treatment and support, you can get through this tough time.
Many of today’s college students are experiencing the following conditions:
- Anxiety — Anxiety is when worry and nervousness start to impact your life. You may have a condition like generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder if you have a hard time relaxing or have panic attacks that can affect the rest of your day. Other common symptoms include spending a significant amount of time worrying, having repetitive or racing thoughts, and having difficulty concentrating.
- Depression — Depression doesn’t always look like excessive sadness. It might feel more like a lack of energy, emptiness or numbness. You might not take as much pleasure in things you used to enjoy, and depression can affect your appetite and sleeping habits, too.
- Stress — Stress is so common that it can be hard to recognize when it gets to be too much. A busy schedule, high expectations and increased responsibilities can all contribute to a high stress level. Unfortunately, stress can’t always be avoided. But a therapist can help you reduce your stress as much as possible and learn stress management techniques.
- Overwhelm and burnout — This is especially common with college students who are neurodivergent. Having too many tasks to juggle, intense emotions or sensitivity to sensory input like noise can make you feel overwhelmed on a daily basis. When you aren’t managing it effectively, this leads to burnout. Burnout can feel like low energy or brain fog, and it can affect your physical health.
- Trauma — If you have childhood trauma or recent traumatic experiences, these can cause a wide range of mental health symptoms. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often involves a combination of anxiety and depression, and your symptoms may get worse in certain triggering situations.
- Low self-esteem — It’s true that we need other people in our lives who can provide emotional support. However, relying too much on others for approval undermines those relationships. It’s also important to believe in your own ability to take on challenges and succeed. This takes some trial and error, and a therapist is the perfect partner to help you build up your self-esteem.
- Relationship struggles — The other people in your life and your relationships can either support your mental health or detract from it. It takes a positive mindset and some skill to cultivate healthy relationships. A therapist can help you learn how to develop safe and supportive relationships by establishing trust, communicating effectively and maintaining your boundaries.
Online therapy makes it easier to maintain good mental health in college
Going to therapy may seem like one more responsibility. Your therapist should be someone you can trust to help you lighten the load. You can look forward to getting your worries and negative feelings off your chest during your sessions. A therapist will be able to help you identify and process those feelings for both relief and personal growth.
The mental health conditions you may experience in college aren’t limited to the ones in this blog post. Understanding your condition is the first step toward getting the help you need. At MoodRx, we have several free mental health assessments you can take to monitor your symptoms, match with the right therapist for you and manage your mental health. All MoodRx therapists provide their services online, so it’s easy to make therapy fit into your busy schedule.
Are you ready to start managing your mental health more intentionally? Sign up for your free MoodRx account and take your first assessment today.