Heart pounding, palms sweating, out of control, failure, scared, shaking. Amanda Batter, Omaha senior, recalls these feelings she experienced before she was put on her medication. At first she didn't understand what was happening to her and why these feelings were so frequent.
"Does everyone feel this way?" she thought.
After finally realizing she was suffering from frequent panic attacks, Batter went to a doctor and was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder and severe depression disorder. Batter had joined an increasing number of college students who suffer from depression and anxiety. According to the American College Health Association (ACHA), the percentage of college students diagnosed with depression has increased 56 percent in the last six years.
Batter explaining the difference between a panic attack and anxiety
The average age for many mental health conditions to surface is the typical college age range of 18 to 24 years old, according to the Mental Health foundation, a Web site that aims to inform people of all types of mental health issues. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 75 percent of all individuals with an anxiety disorder will experience symptoms before age 22.
Batter, like millions of other students, went through a series of drugs until she found some that worked well with her body.
"Since I was 15 I have been prescribed to Zoloft, Paxil, Prozac, and Welbutrin," said Batter. The first three drugs listed left Batter in a dream-state, feeling like she wasn't fully here. The last drug, Welbutrin, made Batter's body become resistant to the drug, which makes people feel even more depressed. After many bad side effects she was then prescribed to Lexapro and Lorazepam, both she has been taking for about a year now.
"Lexapro is an antidepressant and anxiety agent. I take this on a daily basis for severe depression disorder and generalized anxiety disorder," Batter said.
This medication makes her mood more stable everyday rather than up and down, which is typically seen with depression and anxiety. It makes her a generally happier person, more active, more focused, and improves her well-being, she said.
Lorazepam is a medication that is taken as needed, or when she starts to feel anxious. Batter will take it before tests or if she feels like a panic attack is coming on. The medication calms and relaxes her body to help reduce her heart pounding and shaking.
Stephen Ilardi, associate professor of psychology at the University of Kansas said, "There's a bizarre irony for antidepressants." He said that the use of such drugs" has increased exponentially over the last couple of decades and despite this, the rate of depression just keeps going up and up and up. It's not like we have a widely effective treatment."
"I think I initially starting experiencing anxiety in high school, but it worsened when I got to college," Batter said.
That depression and anxiety is often triggered by leaving a structured home life, high school friends and relationships for a college life where students have to make their own decisions.
There was pressure and stress on her when she first came to college because she was an out-of-state student. She didn't know anyone at first and was away from everyone and everything familiar.
"Not having anyone physically here to talk to and be supportive of you is something that can trigger my anxiety, and it did to an extent when I first came to school as an out-of-state student," Batter said.
Although depression and anxiety more strongly effect out-of-state students, it also effects the in-state as well. Kate Lynn, Overland Park junior, fell into a state of depression last semester.
"School just seemed overwhelming, my boyfriend and I were in a rocky stage and I found out my dad was moving to Iowa for work," Lynn said.
Lynn began secluding herself from her sorority and was only spending time with her boyfriend. In the middle of the semester she broke down and decided it would be healthier for her to drop out of her sorority and live at home and commute to campus each day.
"It seems dumb, but I just really needed to be around my family," Lynn said.
Lynn decided she didn't want to go on prescription drugs but thought that talk therapy would help. She began seeing a therapist and sure enough her depression subsided after a few months.
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"It's an epidemic," Ilardi said. He estimated that around one in five of the 600 students in his classes were currently depressed or had taken antidepressants. "It's an epidemic," he said. Because Ilardi teaches psychology classes, the percentage of depressed students in his classes may be higher than the total number at the University because students who suffered from psychological problems were more interested in the subject.
"Expressing yourself through art, journals or simple conversation with others could also ease the pain of depression and anxiety," Ilardi said.
Along with talk therapy Batter tries to read books about anxiety and depression and do anything to distract herself when she is starting to feel anxious. If it is really bad then she will call the doctor, otherwise she tries to do something crafty to help get her mind off of whatever is bothering her.
Watkins Health Center is a good resource for students suffering from anxiety and depression to turn to. It offers several programs to students and teach methods to help relieve stress.
Batter explaining the services she uses at Watkins Health Center
Batter goes to a psychiatrist once every month at Watkins and also went to a few therapy programs that Watkins provides.
"You basically just sit down with someone who has a psychology degree and talk," Batter said.
Stephanie Webster, a Watkins Health Center employee said, Watkins has a Wellness Resource Center that aims to reach out to students with any type of mental illness from eating disorders to depression. Another organization that students can reach out to is the Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), which is appointment based and offers counseling, group therapy, self help materials and testing services.
So if you are feeling stressed around finals time, Watkins offers additional help to those in need.
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