Q: I am a 20-year-old college student and I have found myself worrying a lot more about my classes and keeping up. I also work part-time and I am feeling overwhelmed. My question is when does excessive worry turn into anxiety?
A: Many people are feeling anxious especially now more than ever due to our ongoing pandemic and all of the changes we have had to adapt to. It’s natural for us to worry about things, but worry tends to keep us in the future as opposed to the present moment, which is a much calmer place to be. Worrying can turn into anxiety and even become a disorder. I will list some signs of when worry crosses over to anxiety and what you can do to keep your anxiety and worry under control.
1. A sense of feeling and being on edge.
2. Sleep disturbance.
3. Difficulty keeping up with academic performance and/or work performance.
4. Difficulty concentrating and focusing.
5. A change in appetite; loss of appetite or overeating.
6. Physical symptoms such as social anxiety, using alcohol or substances to calm down, muscle tension, headaches.
7. Avoiding situations that you once enjoyed that trigger anxiety.
8. Anxiety and/or panic attacks.
There are different types of anxiety disorders. If you feel that your anxiety and worry are interfering with your daily life and holding you back from pursuing and achieving your goals, it is an important step to reach out and recognize that you are not alone. There is help and taking that first step is a step toward healing. Perhaps you can reach out to your college counselor and get a referral to a therapist who can offer professional insight and coping techniques to help reduce your anxiety and worry.