Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
By Dr. Rachel Christopher, a licensed psychologist in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Keep reading to find out what to look for, from a therapist who went to a Florida college (Go Bulls)!
Watching your parents drive away after dropping you off at college can be a total gut punch. Not only will you miss your family, you now have all kinds of responsibilities that you didn’t have yesterday. Laundry, food, schedules, all comes down to your own judgment now.
On top of all that new stress, you may start to deal with additional challenges. Some freshmen find they have trouble keeping up with the more advanced course content, others develop body image difficulties, and still more might struggle with making friends.
Some of these struggles are totally normal, but for some folks it can bring on the first occurrence of a mental health concern like depression or anxiety. It’s worth pointing out that there could be another explanation- an adjustment disorder. This is rarely talked about in online mental health circles (at least on my for-you page). An adjustment disorder occurs when a person is experiencing a new, challenging life circumstance, and the stress from the change brings up symptoms of depression, anxiety or both.
How do you know when it’s growing pains, and when you’re dealing with something more, like anxiety, depression, or an adjustment disorder? With 73% of students experiencing some form of mental illness during their collegiate experience, it’s worth knowing the warning signs.
“All things are difficult before they are easy.”- Thomas Fuller
What to look out for:
1. You start isolating
You might notice yourself feeling like you want to stay in and avoid seeing your friends and family. Social interactions may feel more draining than usual.
2. You lose interest in your passions
Some change in your interests is natural as you grow, but if you see that you lose the spark for hobbies or activities you used to enjoy, that can be a warning sign that something more serious could be going on.
3. You lash out at your loved ones
Irritability or a short temper is associated with a wide variety of mental health conditions. A little of this is typical- we all lose our cool occasionally. Be mindful if it becomes a pattern.
4. Your sleep is affected
Monitor your sleep. Check how many hours you get per night. If you’re having trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up too early, that’s important to take note of. Feeling constantly fatigued, sleeping too much and sleeping during class could indicate a problem as well.
5. You feel sad or anxious for more than two weeks
Anxiety and low mood are part of life. Some of it is to be expected, and is even good for us! If your sadness or anxiety sticks around for more than two weeks, it’s time to consider reaching out for help.
6. You turn to drugs or alcohol for relief
Let’s be honest, alcohol and drug use is common in college, although perhaps not as common as you might think. In fact, studies show just around 50% of college students drank alcohol in the past month. If you find yourself reaching for a drink to numb out from stress, or to avoid a hangover, it may be a warning sign.
What to do about it:
1. Open up to a loved one.
Struggling with our mental health can make us feel really alone. It’s easy to assume that no one else feels depression or anxiety in the way we do. Reaching out to a friend or family member can help us feel connected, and allow us to get the support that we need.
2. Reach out for help
College campuses typically have counseling centers and psychiatric care on-site. Unfortunately, as we saw earlier, a lot of college students are struggling. If there is a waitlist, or you may not see your provider as often as you’d like, check out this article that can help you find a therapist. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis or are thinking of hurting yourself or someone else, call 988 or go to your local emergency room.
Conclusion
Moving out of your parents house and starting college can be a blast. It also usually comes with a mixed bag of emotions. If you saw yourself in any of the signs we discussed and would like to get started with a therapist, feel free to reach out to us for a complimentary 15-minute phone consultation below.
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Dr. Rachel Christopher is a licensed clinical psychologist in Fort Lauderdale. She is an expert in working with teens and young adults. She specializes in depression therapy, anxiety therapy, PTSD and trauma-related issues, self-esteem, perfectionism, stress management and more.
Call 954-488-2933 or email today to discuss how our services can help you.
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