Common Mental Health Issues College Students Face

As much fun as college might be for most people, there are also aspects of transitioning to college that can be very trying for many young adults during. Not only is it a time when most everyone around you is under a lot of stress, but it is also when a lot of genetic mental health issues may emerge. Here are common mental health issues college students face.

Depression

Most college students who travel out of state for school tend to deal with the most intense bouts of depression. Being so far from your family and friends can really be difficult, especially in the first few years before you find your footing. Even students who don’t travel very far can experience the same issues.

Those who feel as though they’re taking on the wrong major or attending the wrong school also deal with depression. Lastly, college is a time when relationships can go from flaming hot to icy cold within very short periods of time. Getting one’s heart broken can be a very trying experience, especially while trying to keep up with all the pressures of college and can certainly add to depressed feelings.

Anxiety

It’s no surprise that most college students experience high levels of anxiety. Whether you’re studying for Pepperdine’s mba degree online or for a law degree from Harvard, you have a lot of classes to keep up with, possibly a part time job on the side, and extra curricular projects that you’ve committed to.

Common Mental Health Issues College Students Face

Particularly severe bouts of anxiety can lead to loss of sleep, lack of appetite, abdominal pains, and severe headaches. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, then you should definitely visit a psychologist or therapist to see if they can provide any kind of relief so that you can get back to focusing on your studies and having fun.

Bipolar Disorder

For those who develop bipolar disorder, the college years are usually when the symptoms begin to manifest. Worse still, common environmental and lifestyle factors associated with college, such as sleepless night, high stress and elevated anxiety can even worsen symptoms of someone that is bipolar.

Bipolar disorder causes a person to go through heavy bouts of depression and wild bouts of mania. During periods of mania, individuals tend to feel a high that causes them to spend money recklessly and engage in other dangerous and risky behaviors. These ups and downs can be completely genetic, or they can be brought on by lifestyle habits that perpetually alter one’s state from high to low as a result of high consumption of substances such as sugar, alcohol, and other mind altering drugs.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

College students can often be subject to periods where they suffer from obsessive compulsive disorder, or OCD, as a product of either genetics or environmental influence. It can be brought on by high levels of stress combined with an extreme concern for controlling all aspects of one’s life. If you are finding yourself falling into obsessive or compulsive behaviors and thoughts, be sure to get help right away, because it is a very treatable condition.

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