A N X I E T Y

STUDIES SHOW that most mental disorders begin within adolescent age (12-24), with three-quarters of all lifetime mental disorders emerging before the age of 25 (Tabor, Patalay, & Bann, 2021). More so, among the most prevalent of these mental disorders within college student populations are depression and anxiety (Liu, Stevens, Wong, Yasui, & Chen, 2019), with their symptoms being the main primary causes of years lost due to disability (YLDs) and disability-adjusted life years for young adults (DALYs), which have a tremendous strain on themselves as well as their close ones, like family members (Mokdad et al., 2016).

In this section, we will further discuss the anxiety disorder, its different forms, and its impact overall on the college student population.

W H A T I S
a n x i e t y ?

ANXIETY IS...

Anxiety is a tense unsettling anticipation of a threatening but formless event, a feeling of uneasy suspense. It is a negative affect so closely related to fear that in many circumstances the two terms are used interchangeably. Fear is also a combination of tension and unpleasant anticipation, but distinctions can be made of the causes, duration, and maintenance of fear and of anxiety (Rachman, pp 2-3).

What is the difference?

Fear is used to describe an emotional reaction to a perceived danger, to a threat that is identifiable, such as a poisonous snake. Most fear reactions are intense and have the quality of an emergency. The person’s level of arousal is sharply elevated. However, feelings of anxiety persist for lengthy periods and can nag away ‘at the back of one’s mind’ for days, weeks or months (Rachman 3).

With feelings of anxiety also exists its different forms.

FORMS OF ANXIETY

References (for videos only)

(DCD), D. C. D. (2021, October 20). What are the five major types of anxiety disorders? HHS.gov.

Retrieved December 8, 2022, from https://www.hhs.gov/answers/mental-health-and-substance-abuse/what-are-the-five-major-types-of-anxiety-disorders/index.html

How can we manage anxiety?

The two primary forms of treatment for anxiety disorder are psychotherapy and medications, a combination of both implied to be most beneficial. (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research 2018).

Psychotherapy

Also known as talk therapy or psychological counseling, psychotherapy involves working with a therapist to reduce your anxiety symptoms. It can be an effective treatment for anxiety.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most effective form of psychotherapy for anxiety disorders. (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research 2018).

Medications

Several types of medications are used to help relieve symptoms, depending on the type of anxiety disorder you have and whether you also have other mental or physical health issues. For example:

Certain antidepressants are also used to treat anxiety disorders.
An anti-anxiety medication called buspirone may be prescribed.
In limited circumstances, your doctor may prescribe other types of medications, such as sedatives, also called benzodiazepines, or beta blockers. These medications are for short-term relief of anxiety symptoms and are not intended to be used long term.

(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research 2018).

How Can We Help Those with Anxiety?

First,

Recognition.

Anxiety disorder is the most common mental health condition in the United States, affecting up to 18% of the population. Knowing the signs of anxiety can help you realize when someone you love is having fearful thoughts or feelings (McGuire 2022).
Learn about their:
- Physical Symptoms
- Thoughts
- Behaviors

Second,

Recognize what NOT to do.

Don't enable.
- “On the surface, this seems really thoughtful and sweet,” says McGuire. “But anxiety doesn’t usually go away. Over time, if people continually avoid facing difficult situations, the anxiety grows and special requests for accommodations get bigger.”
Don't force confrontation.
- On the other hand, it’s also not good to force a person to do something they’re scared of. Learning how to overcome deep apprehension is work best done in partnership with a professional therapist.

Third,

Approach with Validation and Concern

Many different things can make people anxious. Saying something like, “I can’t believe you’re getting upset over such a small thing” belittles a person’s experience. Instead, ask your loved one how you can provide support during challenging moments.
“When you start to notice your loved one withdrawing from activities that they used to enjoy, you don’t have to cover up your concern. Instead, it can be helpful to approach your loved one in a warm and positive way,” says McGuire.

R E F E R E N C E S

(DCD), D. C. D. (2021, October 20). What are the five major types of anxiety disorders? HHS.gov.

Retrieved December 8, 2022, from https://www.hhs.gov/answers/mental-health-and-substance-abuse/what-are-the-five-major-types-of-anxiety-disorders/index.html

Liu, C.H., Stevens, C., Wong, S.H.M., Yasui, M., & Chen, J.A. (2019). The prevalence and predictors of mental health diagnoses and

suicide among U.S. college students: Implications for addressing disparities in service use. Depress Anxiety, 36, 8–17.

Tabor, E., Patalay, P., & Bann, D. (2021). Mental health in higher education students and non-students: Evidence from a nationally

representative panel study. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 56, 879–882.

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2018, May 4). Anxiety disorders. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved December 8, 2022,

from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anxiety/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20350967

McGuire, J. (2022, November 1). How to help someone with anxiety. How to Help Someone with Anxiety | Johns Hopkins

Medicine. Retrieved December 8, 2022, from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/how-to-help-someone-with-anxiety

Mokdad, A.H., Forouzanfar, M.H., Daoud, F., Mokdad, A.A., El Bcheraoui, C., Moradi-Lakeh, M., . . . & Murray, C.J.L. (2016). Global

burden of diseases, injuries, and risk factors for young people’s health during 1990–2013: A systematic analysis for the Global

Burden of Disease Study 2013. Lancet, 387, 2383–2401.

Rachman. (2020). Anxiety (Fourth edition..). Routledge.