Anxiety Support & Awareness

One last post: If you or someone you know has anxiety (especially if you are a student or educator) and you feel comfortable posting, please post a picture of yourself in the comment section below. The purpose of this exercise is to show that anxiety can affect people of all different shapes, sizes, colors, and back-rounds, and in doing so, help to end the stigma surrounding mental health.

If you or a loved one needs help, please do not wait to ask for it. There are resources out there to help. The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay can be reached 24 hours a day, 365 days per year by dialing 2-1-1. There are other resources listed below. Some clinics provide care at minimal expense, while others provide care free of cost. YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

https://www.crisiscenter.com/

https://www.gracepointwellness.org/

https://www.baycare.org/services/behavioral-health

https://hcawestflorida.com/service/behavioral-health

http://www.judeochristianhealthclinic.org/index.html

https://health.usf.edu/medicine/psychiatry/

https://www.dacco.org/

http://www.northsidebhc.org/

https://www.boardpreprecovery.com/

Stress and anxiety does not affect college students that much, right? WRONG. According to the article, "Impact of Anxiety and Depression on Student Academic Progress," published on IBCCES.ORG:

"Impact of Anxiety and Depression on Performance
Depression and anxiety affect all areas of an individual’s well-being including sleep, diet, mental and physical health, self-esteem, social interaction and academic performance.

Students who have these disorders are at risk of suffering from poor academic performance and resistance to anything school-related. This can include lack of engagement in the classroom, poor relationships with peers and teachers, and disinterest in pursuing passions and planning for the future. Their learning is also affected due to the fact that anxiety and depression can impact the working memory, which makes it challenging to retain new information and recall previously learned information.

Anxiety and depression negatively influence academic progress and encourage under-achievement. Students with a high level of anxiety score lower on IQ and achievement tests than their peers."

https://ibcces.org/blog/2019/05/01/impact-anxiety-depression-student-progress/

Medication is just one of the treatment options. According to ADAA.org, other treatment options include:

1. Residential treatment: wherein one seeks assistance via a live-in facility.

2. Complementary and alternative medicine: A form of treatment which can include stress and relaxation techniques, meditation, yoga, and acupuncture

3. Trans-cranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS): Gentle electric currents are introduced to the brain as a non-invasive way to treat (and possible cure) anxiety and/or depression, such as the services provided by NeuroSpa TMS.

https://neurospatms.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=8178586967&utm_term=%2Btranscranial%20%2Bmagnetic%20%2Bstimulation%20%2Btherapy&utm_creative=436040959581&gclid=CjwKCAjw8-78BRA0EiwAFUw8LDIG0ADi8QRS7ZQEcrNuFKb_nl6oQliyp9JjKyaoQJ9eo_IItQUGgBoCqW0QAvD_BwE

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Let's talk meds. Medication is not the only treatment option for anxiety but can be an effective one if used properly. Here is a list of some of the common medications used to treat anxiety:

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
SSRIs relieve symptoms by blocking the reabsorption, or reuptake, of serotonin by certain nerve cells in the brain. This leaves more serotonin available, which improves mood. SSRIs (citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, paroxetine, and sertraline) generally produced fewer side effects when compared with tricyclic antidepressants. However, common side effects include insomnia or sleepiness, sexual dysfunction, and weight gain. They are considered an effective treatment for all anxiety disorders, although the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD, typically requires higher doses.

Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs)
The serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, or SNRI, class (venlafaxine and duloxetine) is notable for a dual mechanism of action: increasing the levels of the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine by inhibiting their reabsorption into cells in the brain. As with other medications, side effects may occur, including stomach upset, insomnia, headache, sexual dysfunction, weight gain and minor increase in blood pressure. These medications are considered as effective as SSRIs, so they are also considered a first-line treatment for the treatment of anxiety disorders, but not for obsessive compulsive disorder ,where SSRI’s are the preferred first line treatment.

Benzodiazepines
This class of drugs is frequently used for short-term management of anxiety and as an add on treatment, in treatment resistant anxiety disorders.They are not recommended as a treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Benzodiazepines (alprazolam, clonazepam, diazepam, and lorazepam) are highly effective in promoting relaxation and reducing muscular tension and other physical symptoms of anxiety. Long-term use may require increased doses to achieve the same effect, which may lead to problems related to tolerance and dependence.

Tricyclic Antidepressants
Concerns about long-term use of the benzodiazepines led many doctors to favor tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline, imipramine, and nortriptyline). Although effective in the treatment of some anxiety disorders(but not Social Anxiety Disorder), they can cause significant side effects, including orthostatic hypotension (drop in blood pressure on standing), constipation, urinary retention, dry mouth, and blurry vision.

https://adaa.org/finding-help/treatment/medication

What is anxiety? Is it normal?

Anxiety can be a normal part of life for most people. One might feel anxious in a variety of situations from work to home to school, but anxiety disorders involve more than temporary worry or fear. For a person with anxiety, the fear does not go away and can get worse with time.

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders/index.shtml

What are the symptoms of anxiety?

- Feeling restless, wound-up, or on edge
- Being easily fatigued
- Having difficulty concentrating; mind going blank
- Being irritable
- Having muscle tension
- Difficulty controlling feelings of worry
- Having sleep problems, such as difficulty falling or staying
asleep, restlessness, or unsatisfying sleep

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders/index.shtml

Did you know?

1. 40 million US adults suffer from an anxiety disorder and 75% of
them experience their first episode of anxiety by the age of 22.
2. 30 % of college students reported that stress had negatively
affected their academic performance.
3. 85 % of college students reported that they felt overwhelmed by
everything they had to do at some point in the last year.
4. 41.6 % stated anxiety as the top presenting concern among
college students
5. 24.5% of college students reported they were taking
psychotropic medication

For more great facts: https://adaa.org/finding-help/helping-others/college-students/facts

Facts | Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA Anxiety disorders often co-occur with other disorders. Learn more about the following disorders, which often affect college students, too:

Anxiety Support & Awareness updated their business hours.