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    The word anxiety has been a buzzword in news outlets recently. Anxiety is a normal human emotion, but it becomes a diagnosable disorder when it begins to interfere with everyday life. The cause of anxiety varies. It can be due to medication, big life changes, past trauma, or for no known reason (“Anxiety Disorders”). It can take a physical and mental toll on the individual, even becoming debilitating. Unfortunately, with the pandemic, anxiety has been on the rise with more and more individuals experiencing anxiety episodes daily. With pressure from peers and a highly competitive society, anxiety rates in college students have increased significantly; fortunately though, a multitude of methods exist to combat anxiety in college students.

    The first step in combating anxiety in college is having support from parents or caretakers who understand the illness. The first thing parents/caretakers should understand is that it is very common for college students to experience some anxiety; it is reported that 63% of students in college have experienced some level of anxiety (LeBlanc and Marques). Parents should remember  that the first step is not necessarily intervening or trying to problem solve. Megan Woolhouse in her article, “Parents’ Survival Guide: Knowing When to Intervene,” says, “Ask yourself the question: does my student need something from me or just a comforting and reliable person to talk to?” (Woolhouse). By pausing  and asking these questions, it allows the students to process and reach out for help if needed. Often students just want to feel comforted by their parents/caretaker. However, caretakers and parents should be on alert and discern if there is something deeper going on (1). Parents are usually the first line of support for their children, so when they feel something is truly amiss they should advocate for their children. Some critics argue that parents should not baby or coddle their child and let them make their own mistakes. While this is very true, parental support in this situation looks different than rescuing or being a “helicopter parent.” This process provides the specific support that students need. College students are going through major life changes, and often need added support; figuring things out on their own may not be the best support for an anxiety ridden child.

    The next line of treatment should be seeking some form of counseling. A multitude of different forms of therapy exist; cognitive-behavioral therapy is the one most psychologists first suggest for anxiety. The American Psychology Association even claims that “most patients who suffer from anxiety are able to reduce or eliminate symptoms after several (or fewer) months of psychotherapy, and many patients notice improvement after just a few sessions” (“Beyond Worry: How Psychologists Help with Anxiety Disorders”). It has clearly  proven high efficacy rates. If parental support is not enough, considering psycho-therapy should be the next option. Scholars have started to question the efficacy of CBT with the mean remission rate only being 51% (Springer et al.). While this is true, there are many different types of therapy people can try.  CBT is still the go-to when dealing with anxiety.

    Another counseling option specifically available to students is on-campus counseling services. Luckily, more universities have created a broader range of  resources for their students regarding mental health with “about 44% of college counseling centers added staff last year” (Abrams). This is beneficial as it is reported that the most common reasons students go to counseling is for anxiety and depression related issues (Abrams). Having therapy available on campus is  helpful and significant because it makes it more accessible and convenient for students to receive support where they attend school. Critics argue that colleges are implementing more counseling centers to bring in more students instead of treating the root problem. The U.S. Department of Education actually found that  with a majority of people, counseling helped in some capacity (Cronin et al. 231) College students already have many stressors as a result of being away from home, being independent, maintaining grades, and deciding their futures, so  being able to easily access therapy when in need is crucial for their mental health. 

    Another option for treatment is utilizing anxiety medication. Physicians typically start people with, “Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which were designed to treat depression, are also effective for many anxiety disorders” (Cassano et al.). The medications have proven to be highly effective, especially when used in conjunction with therapy. Medication can be used along with therapy and can be a long-term or short-term solution. Even if the first medication prescribed is not effective there are a plethora of other options (Treatment - Generalised Anxiety Disorder in Adults). About 40% to 60% of people who took an SSRI felt some relief in six to eight weeks. This statistic could be criticized because in the same study 20% to 40% of the people who took the placebo felt relief (“Depression: How Effective are Antidepressants?”). While the margins of difference are narrow, there is still around a 20% higher efficacy rate when taking an SSRI. Medication has played a vital role in treating college anxiety, especially since numbers are on the rise.

    A more conservative approach to dealing with college anxiety of any level is working on self-care. Working on one’s well-being is often overlooked, but focusing on it can greatly aid students. Physical health is a very important component, “Regular exercise, particularly aerobic exercise, may help you combat stress and release tension (“Self-help - Generalized Anxiety Disorder in Adults”). Also, when exercising, serotonin is released which is the “happy hormone,” so it can improve mood. Another way to ease stress is learning to and remembering to relax. Relaxing is not just sitting around watching television, it can also be going for a walk, reading, or yoga. Eating a balanced and nutritious diet helps fuel the brain to tackle daily battles, so it is vital to be properly fueling. This should be especially focused on during the college transition because it is probably the first time the student is responsible for cooking and feeding themselves (“Self-help - Generalized Anxiety Disorder in Adults”). Experts may argue that self-help can easily turn into narcissism and selfishness, and this can be true, but especially in university students more times than not they forget to properly take care of themselves. While self-care is often not thought of as an effective treatment for anxiety, it can actually greatly improve symptoms. 

    There is no one size fits all solution to combating anxiety in college, but fortunately there are options for solutions that are accessible. Also, there is a wide array of support and treatment such as  having increased parental/caretaker support and an array of on campus resources, as well as more clinical aid like therapy and medication. While the number of people with anxiety has dramatically increased, the number of resources, funding and solutions have  also expanded.