According to the Anxiety Disorders Association, anxiety disorders are the most common type of mental health condition. Anxiety disorders may begin in childhood, but often times the pressures of adulthood and college life trigger increased anxiety symptoms.
Some degree of anxiety normally occurs throughout everyone's life. However, when anxiety becomes uncontrollable and persistent, an anxiety disorder may be present. Types of anxiety disorders include generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder and social anxiety disorder.
College students with anxiety disorders may have family members with anxiety and the the tendency to develop anxiety disorders may be inherited. Anxiety disorders also may develop as a result of other risk factors such as chemical imbalances in the brain and traumatic life experiences.
Anxiety may occur along with other disorders such as depression, bipolar disorder, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, eating disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, sleep disorders and drug addiction.
College students with anxiety may worry incessantly about grades, assignments, health, family, money and relationships. Those with OCD anxiety may obsess about insignificant things, experience intrusive, disturbing thoughts and complete repetitive actions such as hand-washing or checking locks. Some college students with anxiety may experience panic attacks. During a panic attack, the affected individual may experience heart palpitations, chest pain, choking sensations, dizziness, sweating, tingling, chills, hot flashes, trembling, nausea and depersonalization. During a panic attack, the affected person may also feel as though she is going crazy and also feel an intense desire to escape.
Physicians typically treat anxiety with a combination of cognitive-behavioral therapy and medication. Physicians commonly prescribe antidepressants or benzodiazepines such as Xanax or Valium to treat anxiety disorders. According to the Mayo Clinic, a healthy diet, regular exercise and getting enough sleep also can help to reduce anxiety symptoms.