By Nicole Baldwin
Anxiety can come and go like a wave, or it can be a part of your day-to-day life. It can be healthy for your body and also not healthy. What makes anxiety not healthy? If you are constantly in fear of the future or what will happen the next day, it can cause your body to respond differently. Panic attacks can occur when your brain is overwhelmed. Anxiety can also make you not want to get out of bed and interact with people. Interacting with people or talking in class may seem scary. The thought of talking to people can cause sweating, rapid heartbeat, restlessness, and tension.
Anxiety can also prevent a good night’s sleep. You may stay up all night afraid to fall asleep and wake up the next day having to go out into the world. Not getting enough sleep can cause irritability and anxiety about not sleeping well. School and family life can also trigger anxiety. School can make anxiety worse through taking tests, speaking in front of the class, and talking to the teacher. Family can trigger anxiety when parents put a lot of pressure on their children to be the best or in a low socioeconomic household; there may be anxiety about food, getting materials for school, or even finding a place to put a roof over their heads.
It is essential to find ways to relieve some of the stress from which anxiety stems from for your well-being. It is possible to get sick from anxiety as it can tear down the immune system. Contact Health Services if you are having difficulty concentrating or managing your thoughts.
To make an appointment, call 413-782-1221 or come to CSP 235.
Counseling services are offering telehealth visits with limited in-person sessions right now.
