A Personal Case of Anxiety: Causes, Effects, and Possible Treatments Anxiety is an emotion with which nearly everyone is familiar. Though it is unpleasant, it has important evolutionary functions, keeping individuals alert, sensitive to danger, aware of priorities, and so on. Unfortunately, anxiety can also turn into an enemy if it is allowed to take control. Unchecked anxiety can lead to depression, physical ailments, poor judgment, even homicide or suicide. This paper will discuss my own problems with anxiety, possible causes, how it has negatively affected my life, why I wish to take steps to reduce it, and what treatment options might be available. Regarding cause, a longtime debate in psychology is nature versus nurture. Epigenetics
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Banjong (2015) conducted a study of 344 international students, looking at challenges related to finances, English language, culture shock, loneliness, and homesickness. The multiple difficulties of adjusting to another country, learning how to do things a new way, and coping with academic, money, and family pressures are a perfect recipe for anxiety, especially when a student has those tendencies in the first place, and this can have a negative effect on academic performance, health, and enjoyment of cross-cultural experiences. Banjong further found that international students dealing with problems with English visited student success and writing centers, while the ones experiencing stress and isolation saw a counselor. I have both of these issues and have sought help for my writing but not for my anxiety. This appears to be typical for many international students. According to Banjong, they seek counseling at lower rates than American students do because of the stigma attached to the word in their culture, or because they are not familiar with what counseling entails. At the same time, those who suffer from academic anxiety, depression, social anxieties, homesickness, culture shock, and so on, researchers found, tend to neglect their schoolwork and thus perform more poorly. Thus it is recommended that international …show more content…
I could also use more assistance with my schoolwork to make sure I can keep my grades up in spite of the language difficulties and the challenge of taking new and unfamiliar subjects for my General Education credits. A finances consultant might be useful to help me find ways to budget more carefully and avoid money stress. These are some of the things that I can do to try to decrease my anxiety and depression, and find ways to better cope with the challenges of being an international student. I feel hesitant to meet with a counselor, though. I do not know if it is because of the reasons described by Banjong (2015), but I am not sure what I need is to tell my problems to someone. I might be willing to try the Internet-based CBT, because I think what I need most is practical solutions to my specific problems. On the other hand, I have to admit the possibility that seeing a counselor might help and that I resist it because of the stigma. In China people do not see counselors unless they have severe mental problems. When I read about counseling and the therapist/patient relationship, however, I become more willing to admit that it too could be useful to me. Counseling might lead to trying such things as yoga, deep breathing, meditation, or even prescription medications (Corliss,
Banjong (2015) conducted a study of 344 international students, looking at challenges related to finances, English language, culture shock, loneliness, and homesickness. The multiple difficulties of adjusting to another country, learning how to do things a new way, and coping with academic, money, and family pressures are a perfect recipe for anxiety, especially when a student has those tendencies in the first place, and this can have a negative effect on academic performance, health, and enjoyment of cross-cultural experiences. Banjong further found that international students dealing with problems with English visited student success and writing centers, while the ones experiencing stress and isolation saw a counselor. I have both of these issues and have sought help for my writing but not for my anxiety. This appears to be typical for many international students. According to Banjong, they seek counseling at lower rates than American students do because of the stigma attached to the word in their culture, or because they are not familiar with what counseling entails. At the same time, those who suffer from academic anxiety, depression, social anxieties, homesickness, culture shock, and so on, researchers found, tend to neglect their schoolwork and thus perform more poorly. Thus it is recommended that international …show more content…
I could also use more assistance with my schoolwork to make sure I can keep my grades up in spite of the language difficulties and the challenge of taking new and unfamiliar subjects for my General Education credits. A finances consultant might be useful to help me find ways to budget more carefully and avoid money stress. These are some of the things that I can do to try to decrease my anxiety and depression, and find ways to better cope with the challenges of being an international student. I feel hesitant to meet with a counselor, though. I do not know if it is because of the reasons described by Banjong (2015), but I am not sure what I need is to tell my problems to someone. I might be willing to try the Internet-based CBT, because I think what I need most is practical solutions to my specific problems. On the other hand, I have to admit the possibility that seeing a counselor might help and that I resist it because of the stigma. In China people do not see counselors unless they have severe mental problems. When I read about counseling and the therapist/patient relationship, however, I become more willing to admit that it too could be useful to me. Counseling might lead to trying such things as yoga, deep breathing, meditation, or even prescription medications (Corliss,