Coping with Anxiety and Depression - Resources for Students: What if I Feel Too Anxious to Stay in School?

If you are considering taking time off from school, there are professionals at Saint Leo University who are ready to help you make an informed decision and guide you through the process.

• Student Advising: Your advisor is one of the best resources you'll have for your academic planning! They can help you by listening to the difficulties you are currently experiencing, and help you come up with a personal academic plan, and help you decide whether or not continuing to with your education at this time is the right decision for you.
   
• Counseling & Prevention Services: Counseling & Prevention Services provides advice from licensed professionals to students and uses a holistic approach to mental health treatment. You can call and make an appointment at 352-588-TALK (licensed therapist available 24/7.)
   
• Saint Leo Abbey: If you are seeking religious guidance, the Saint Leo Abbey monks are here to guide you. You can reach them by phone at (352) 588-8624. If you are not Catholic and are seeking religious guidance from an authority in your religion, it is recommended that you look for the nearest religious establishment for those in your faith, or reach out to a trusted member of your religious community who you are familiar with.
   

​​What if I'm not sure I want to leave school, but I'm having a lot of trouble in my current classes?
 

• CAVE Tutoring: CAVE is Saint Leo University's tutoring center, and can help you with assignments and classes you may be struggling with. No appointment is necessary!
• Writing and Research Support: The Cannon Memorial Library at Saint Leo University offers writing, research, and citation help from our writing support staff, Ángel Luis Jiménez and John David Harding. You can schedule an appointment with them to discuss research and writing questions to reduce anxiety about your research papers.
• LibAnswers: LibAnswers allows you to search for the most frequently asked questions asked to our Reference librarians about courses, research, and using the library and school's resources overall. You can also contact the librarians at Saint Leo University by using the information on the provided page.

• Why isn't my anxiety helping me get my work done? Why is it making it harder?
  When most people talk about feeling anxious, they talk about feeling jittery, and some people even talk about ways their anxiety makes them perform tasks better. For example, the author of this guide is terrified of the dentist. So, she takes excellent care of her teeth to reduce the number of times she has to go to the dentist. Other people may even say, "I work better under pressure" or "My fear is my fuel."
  
  ​People who say this, though, are likely reacting to anticipated anxiety and are still not experiencing it to the levels experienced by people dealing with anxiety disorders, and by those who are experiencing anxiety to a level that impedes their performance at work or school. At higher levels, anxiety makes you feel helpless and directionless. This is because anxiety often comes from multiple sources, and some may not be tangible, or so easy to solve. When we get too anxious, it can cause a feeling of helplessness that keeps us from getting things done. In fact, some say anxiety is the "number one productivity killer." There are ways you can try to channel your anxiety and make you more productive, such as trying to reframe your thinking and using breathing techniques, but anxiety is often part of an underlying condition that can be managed better with a dedicated care team. It is recommended that you consult a medical professional if you are experiencing high levels of anxiety.
   
• How common is it to suffer from anxiety?
  The Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA) 2006 Stress & Anxiety Disorders Survey shows that:
  • ​72 percent of people who have daily stress and anxiety say it interferes with their lives at least moderately.
  • 40 percent experience persistent stress or excessive anxiety in their daily lives.
  • 30 percent with daily stress have taken prescription medication to manage stress, nervousness, emotional problems or lack of sleep.
  • 28 percent have had an anxiety or panic attack.
  • Only 9 percent have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. (This does not mean anxiety disorders are that uncommon, only that people experiencing symptoms are often not diagnosed due to not seeking help, or due to it not being recognized by their health care team as a disorder.)
  • 56 percent state that their stress and anxiety impacts their job performance
  • 51 percent say stress or anxiety impacts relationship with coworkers and peers
  • 50 percent say it impacts the quality of their work
  • 43 percent say stress and anxiety harms their relationships with superiors
  • Globally, anxiety is the sixth leading cause of disability
    
    As you can see, if you're feeling anxious, you're not alone!
     
• Can I come back to Saint Leo University if I drop out due to my anxiety?
  The short answer is "Yes!" If you are a student who has not attended Saint Leo University for 7 terms or more (1 full academic year or more out of Saint Leo University classes) you are considered a “Re-entry” student. There are different Re-entry Types and personnel who assist returning students with returning to their studies. You can find out more by clicking on the page linked here. You can also contact Admissions at Saint Leo University to discuss the re-enrollment process if you plan to take less than a year off.
   
• Why is college important right now? I'm having trouble thinking about next week, much less making plans for my future!
  It's difficult to predict what the future will look like, but there are millions of people working hard to make sure that we're able to move forward as a society. If you are able, continuing your education and studying something you're passionate about is a great way to make sure you have the best future possible for you.

Telling the people you love most that you're struggling with anxiety and depression is always difficult, much less telling them it is impacting your schoolwork.

It is recommended that you reach out to your advisor and counseling services and bring up your concerns to them about the best way to approach the situation if you are having trouble talking to the people close to you about how you're feeling. There's no single "right" or "wrong" way to bring up your struggles with anxiety and depression, and talking it over with an objective third party can help you unpack what you're feeling, and develop a plan of action.

Do not forget: You are not alone in your struggles, and your loved ones, along with your university, are here to help you succeed.