How to Find Treatment for Generalized Anxiety Disorder at College

Navigating your university mental health services

There is an increasing amount of of people who attend college and have an anxiety disorder, including generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), according to the Anxiety Disorders Association of America. This trend, along with other reasons, has put some strain on university counseling centers, but it has also led to a revolution in how these institutions can help people with anxiety problems. The following is a brief guide for people attending college to find the best services available at their university. For more on [/link url=http://gad.about.com/od/selfhelp/a/collegeanxiety.htm]anxiety and college students view this article.

1. Assess Your Needs

Everyone has a slightly different range of treatment needs for GAD. Some people need weekly therapy sessions and medication, whereas others can function without support except in times of stress. Making a determination on what you may need to function optimally at college is a crucial first step.

2. Find the Counseling Center

After you determine what sort of needs you have (or if that question is difficult to answer), it is time to find the counseling center. Almost all four-year colleges/universities have some sort of mental health center on campus. Some schools allow students to get unlimited therapy at their counseling center, whereas others can have charges for each session. The current trend is for schools to work with a short-term model, allowing students to attend around 12 sessions.

The services available and the staff credentials vary widely. Some centers have dozens of professionals (psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, etc), and others have very small operations. Furthermore, some centers can offer programs beyond individual therapy such as an anxiety management group, an anxiety workshop, or other type of support. It is worth asking a lot of questions to make sure you get the complete information on what is available to you.

3. Community Support

If your school does not have a counseling center, or the services will not meet your needs, it is time to explore other community options. Word-of-mouth is the best way to find a competent treatment provider, and asking for referrals from the counseling center or student health center staff can be a great way to make this happen with good results.

4. Follow Through

One of the most common pitfalls for people with GAD at college is not finding support early on. Many people delay finding a treatment provider to work with, and then scramble when a crisis arises or significant stress hits. For counseling centers, certain points during the semester (October-December; February-April) are much busier than others, which can often create waits for treatment. You can avoid this problem by finding someone early on and following through on what is recommended for your continued success.