College blues: anxiety in a new environment
The transition from child to adult evokes a different set of feelings in parents than it does in children who are leaving the nest. Parents are learning to let go while young adults are learning to navigate a new world. Even the best-adjusted young adults can be apprehensive.
Bags packed and waiting by the door signals both an ending and a beginning. A child is leaving home, embarking on a college career.
This transition from child to adult evokes different feelings in parents than it does in the children who are leaving the nest. Parents are learning to let go while young adults are learning to navigate a new world. Even the best-adjusted young adults can be apprehensive.
Janelle was already a little anxious about having moved a plane trip away from the world she’d always known, and then she entered a stressful situation. Her roommate was involved in behavior Janelle did not want to be part of. And Janelle was feeling sexual pressure she wasn’t ready for. And her classes were much more challenging than she’d expected. And there were as many options for parties to attend as there were items on a fast-food menu.
Janelle felt sad thinking about her old friends. She lost her appetite and began having panic attacks. She barely made it through the first semester.
Janelle spent her second semester receiving regular treatment for her anxiety. She learned that her fears were normal. She learned how to set clear boundaries with her roommate. She communicated with her professors when she needed guidance. She found social activities with peers who did not impose judgment.
Learning how to talk about her concerns in a therapeutic setting relieved the pressure. She gained strategies for calming her fears and was soon able to embrace the college experience.
If you’re struggling in school, or feeling anxious and overwhelmed, contact me or another trusted healthcare provider. You don’t have to face it alone.
Robin Maier is a licensed clinical social worker who uses a gentle therapeutic approach to guide women in every stage of life toward greater happiness
