Therapy for College Students
A Support You Deserve: Therapy for Young Adults and College Students
Are you struggling with the transition to college, or with college-related stress?
Pursuing a college education comes with many changes. You likely moved away from home, lost familiar sources of belonging and social connection, and have been navigating many new academic and personal stressors. And, as if life hadn’t served up enough change, you have been handling all of this within the unprecedented context of the COVID-19 pandemic!
In circumstances like these, anyone might struggle. If it feels like it’s all been too much, you’re not alone, you’re not broken, and you can feel better. For young adults and college students, therapy can be a great tool to help you get back on a path towards your best life.
What are some common mental health concerns in college students?
Per a 2015 study[1], nearly 45% of college participants reported moderate or extreme concern related to academics, with other top sources of concern including success, post-graduate plans, finances, sleep, friends, family, health, body image, and self-esteem.
Given the prevalence of stressors during this stage of life, it probably doesn’t come as a surprise that many college students experience depression and anxiety. In one recent study of more than 100,000 American college students, 41% reported moderate to severe depressive symptoms, and 34% reported moderate to severe anxiety symptoms[2]. In other words, one out of every three college students experiences significant depression and/or anxiety.
[1] Beiter, R., Nash, R., McCrady, M., Rhoades, D., Linscomb, M., Clarahan, M., & Sammut, S. (2015). The prevalence and correlates of depression, anxiety, and stress in a sample of college students. Journal of Affective Disorders, 173, 90-96.
[2] The Healthy Minds Network. (2021). The healthy minds study 2021 winter/spring data report. https://healthymindsnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/HMS_nationalwinter2021_-update1.5.21.pdf
What are symptoms of depression?
Symptoms of depression can include changes to your mood, level of interest in activities, sleep, energy, appetite, concentration, self-esteem, and rate of movement or speech. When depressed, you may feel as if you are viewing the world through dark glasses. You may feel hopeless and helpless, perhaps to the point of having suicidal thoughts. You may also beat yourself up for your perceived failures and struggle to give yourself credit for your successes.
Thankfully, a variety of approaches to counseling can effectively reduce symptoms of depression for young adults and get you back to living a more joyful and purposeful life. Click here to learn more about depression and treatment options.
What are symptoms of anxiety?
Anxiety can take many different forms. Perhaps you find yourself finding yourself worrying uncontrollably and feeling restless, on edge, or irritable. Perhaps you notice that you are very anxious about specific social situations where you could be judged or rejected, such as meeting new people, going on a date, or giving a presentation. You may experience sudden, unpredictable rushes of anxiety that come along with scary physical sensations. Or, there may be particular objects or situations that predictably bring on a strong feeling of fear for you.
Regardless of the form anxiety takes, it tends to be deeply uncomfortable. When anxious, you may have a strong and natural urge to avoid or escape the situation triggering the anxiety. In the short term, avoidance works – ah, sweet relief! Your fear subsides as you escape the uncomfortable situation. Unfortunately, anxiety is greedy. As you avoid the source of your fear, in the long-term life can become smaller and smaller, and anxiety tends to become worse.
There are a variety of approaches to therapy for young adults which can help you break the anxiety-avoidance cycle and get back to living a more full and satisfying life. Click here to learn more about anxiety and treatment options.
What other mental health concerns may benefit from therapy for young adults?
There are many common mental health conditions which tend to appear for the first time before age 25. Some other common conditions include:
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Symptoms of PTSD can emerge after experiencing an event that involved actual, threatened, or witnessed death, serious injury, or sexual violence. PTSD includes intrusive symptoms (e.g., unwanted memories or nightmares), changes in emotions and beliefs, changes in reactivity (e.g., increased irritability), and avoidance of things that remind you of the trauma.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Obsessive compulsive disorder tends to feature (a) intrusive and unwanted thoughts that are disturbing to you, and (b) behaviors you feel a strong urge to perform in response to obsessions.
Bipolar Disorder. Bipolar disorder is characterized by periods of mania (in the case of Bipolar I disorder) or hypomania (in the case of Bipolar II disorder), which differ in symptom severity and duration. A hypomanic episode, for example, is partially characterized by several days or more of unusually elevated or irritable mood with increased activity or energy.
Disordered eating. Common eating disorders including binge eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, and anorexia nervosa. Binge eating symptoms include feeling out of control of eating while eating unusually large portions of food. Bulimia nervosa occurs when binge eating is accompanied by behaviors to prevent weight gain. Anorexia nervosa is characterized by severely restricting food intake, leading to notably low body weight. Eating disorders symptoms often include strong concerns with body image, including basing self-evaluation on body image.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. ADHD is a developmental disorder characterized by symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactivity/impulsivity, which are first evident in childhood.
Substance Use Disorders. Substance use disorders are diagnosed when use of a substance (e.g., alcohol, marijuana) is causing several problems. These problems may include but are not limited to use in physically dangerous contexts (e.g., driving), repeatedly using more of the substance or for longer periods than planned, and use that is causing or worsening social/physical/psychological problems.
If you are experiencing some of the symptoms listed above, know that there is reason to have hope. For college students with any of the above concerns, evidence-based therapies exist that can improve your symptoms and quality of life.
When to consider therapy for young adults?
If you have been struggling, the best time to reach out for help is now. The sooner you get the support you deserve, the sooner this important time of your life can become about thriving instead of surviving. We’re here to help.
How can I find a therapist for young adults?
Foothills CBT offers in person or online therapy for college students and young adults. If you want to learn more about our practice and your treatment options, email us or call our office at 720-432-7061 to schedule a session or connect with a provider for a free, 10-minute consultation.