College is painted by the media as a time of fun and exciting adventure. It has become an important milestone toward adulthood. However, for some, college is a daunting and stressful experience and sometimes leads to struggles with mental health. The stress of living alone, being far away from home, the big, adult responsibilities, all lead to depression, anxiety, or substance abuse. As per a report by the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 80% of students in college feel overwhelmed about the incoming responsibilities of school and life.
But hang in there, don’t worry. By being aware and knowledgeable of the potential of this problem, you or your loved one can get proper treatment. Take note of these signs and symptoms of mental illness:
Anxiety disorders
Feeling anxious or nervous is normal. You can also experience panic attacks even if you don’t have an anxiety disorder. However, having chronic anxiety means these feelings are more prominent in a person’s daily life, making them seem uncontrollable and affecting day-to-day tasks. Signs of chronic anxiety include:
- Increased heart rate
- Trouble with breathing
- A sense of panic, trembling
- Chest pain
- Dizziness
Eating disorders
People who suffer from an eating disorder are typically not the way we perceive them. Like other mental illnesses, there are many types of eating disorders. The most common are anorexia nervosa, bulimia, and binge-eating disorder. Some symptoms of an eating disorder include:
- Intense fear of weight gain
- Extreme fixation on body image
- Insisting in having a weight below the average
- Refusing to eat, especially in public
- Overeating
- Forced vomiting
- Excessive exercising
Mood disorders
Considered one of the most famous mental illness categories, mood disorders affect mood and behaviors. Mood disorders include depression and bipolar conditions. Signs of having a mood disorder include:
- Self-inflicted wounds, self-harm
- Loss of interest in favorite activities
- Thoughts of suicide
- Drastic mood changes
- Excessive or difficulty in sleeping
- Lack of energy
- Sudden change in weight
- Fatigue
Suicidal behavior
Every day, about 122 Americans take their own lives. Suicide is the second-leading cause of death for people aged 15 to 24. Check if someone may be suicidal through these signs:
- Talks about having no reason to live or wanting to die
- Behaves recklessly
- Talks about being a burden
- Exhibits frequent mood swings
- Shows extreme rage
- Abuse in drugs, alcohol
Students across the world who are studying in Australia, UK, USA or any other country suffer from mental depression because of many reasons. Remember to not attempt to self-diagnose yourself. If you recognize some signs, the best way is to talk to a therapist or doctor to be medically diagnosed. Also, note that almost all mental health illnesses can be treated. Check out MentalHealth.gov for more information.
College life has both good and bad sides that can make or break you. Learn more about what you should expect in college by reading our articles here at MSM Unify.
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