By Dr. Kel Lee Cutrell, Associate Director of Student Counseling
According to the "Best Colleges" survey conducted in April 2021, 45% of college students reported an increase in anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. While most students rely heavily on peer support to manage emotions, it has been difficult to accomplish this during the last two years. This decrease in support networks has affected academic success among other areas of students' lives.
This is being shown through lack of student engagement in class, difficulty making friends, difficulty completing assignments, difficulty in attending class, and difficulty maintaining a required GPA. Students are also experiencing increased anxiety due to fears and concerns about loved ones' health and safety.When one aspect of our routine is altered, such as adjusting to online learning and physical distancing, it is possible that it will have a snowball effect, if not managed. This can then alter many other aspects such as sleep routines, exercise, socialization, and eating habits. Anxiety can keep us from fully embracing life. We tend to avoid people, situations and opportunities when we allow anxiety to dictate our lives.
In the previous Nigel Cares article, we explored symptoms of anxiety and ways to recognize them. Below is a list of ways to help you address and manage those symptoms if and when you find yourself experiencing some of them: