Finishing high school and starting college causes huge amounts of stress in young adults. During college, students experience a lot of firsts. This may be from something as simple as doing laundry or cooking — to something tougher — as living alone. All of these things may add up to disaster, but psychotherapy can be the right solution.

Often times, undergraduates move into dormitories where they might run into trouble with roommates or they break up with their high school sweethearts because they can’t handle long distance. On top of all the personal issues come classes and assignments that take hours to complete.

College is nerve-wracking because these high school students turn into independent adults over night. They no longer have their parents watching over them or their close friends reinforcing their real identities. Psych Central claims depression and anxiety are predominant issues around campuses in the U.S. In the last 15 years, depression has doubled and suicide has tripled.

Hilary Silver, M.S.W., a licensed clinical social worker and mental health expert for Campus Calm, told Psych Central that Identity Disorder might develop in students. People who suffer from this are “disoriented and feel a loss of their sense of self,” said Silver. This disorder particular causes scholars to use and abuse drugs more often because of low self-esteem.

According to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) report, Wasting the Best and the Brightest: Substance Abuse at America’s Colleges and Universities, 45 percent of students binge drink and approximately 21 percent abuse prescription or illegal drugs.

Body issues for both young men and women are also a huge problem. Sometimes school can become a fashion show, and image could mean everything. Exercise and eating right or not eating at all might take over the student’s thoughts and turn into a dangerous obsession.

According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD), 91 percent of college women try to regulate their weight by reducing their calorie intake. In total, 24 million people across the nation of all ages and genders have an eating disorder.

These statistics are alarming and something needs to be done. Students need to realize that it is not a sign of weakness by getting professional help.

Kensey Niziol, 21, understands how hard college life can be and she agrees that everyone should try going to therapy at least once.

“It doesn’t hurt to talk about your feelings because it’ll prevent you, hopefully, from doing something stupid in the long run, and if for some reason it doesn’t work at least you can say you tried,” said Niziol.

Help is easy to get because universities across the nation, including DePaul, offer counseling services to students. If you have insurance, then usually a good portion of the sessions are covered which means that only a small amount of money is due.

According to Mayo Clinic psychotherapy is used to help cure addictions, anxiety, eating, mood, and personality disorders as well as Schizophrenia.

But you don’t have to be diagnosed with any of those to see a professional. Therapy can help diminish stress, get rid of anxiety, handle life changes, recover from sexual abuse, or even help you sleep better. But most importantly counselors and psychologists help manage your life and maximize your happiness.
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