52	Get support

College can be an emotionally and psychologically challenging time. Your entire world is changing, you’re making big decisions about the rest of your life, you’re moving into a new phase of adulthood—it’s a lot to handle. If you’re undergoing something difficult psychologically, you’re probably not alone.

The great thing about many colleges is that students have easy access to mental health services. In many cases, these services are part of the tuition benefits and are located right on campus. With some research, you’ll probably find accredited psychologists on site as well as support groups, access to referrals, and more. It’s not always easy to find this wealth of support once you leave campus life behind, so you may as well take advantage of the helping hands around you while you’re still in school.

HOW TO DO IT

1 / As clichéd as it may sound, the first step is to accept that you need help. Everyone, at one point or another, deserves a supportive boost, whether it’s due to mild anxiety or something much more serious.

2 / Go to the student health services center and tell a doctor what you’re going through. The doctor can refer you to the proper professional, on or off campus, or recommend a support group.

Finding mental health treatment can be a lot like dating: you may not find the right therapist or group immediately, and you may have to shop around a bit. Don’t write off therapy just because you had one less-than-ideal experience. Your mental health is a long-term commitment, and patience will get you results.

Shrink breakdown

Here’s a basic description of the most common types of psychological treatments:

  Psychoanalysis: A treatment in which you and a professional map out your innermost subconscious thoughts and work to shed unhelpful ways of thinking. Psychoanalysis can be rigorous and entail a high commitment.

  Group psychotherapy: A professional guides a group of people experiencing a similar issue, ranging from anger management to eating disorders to alcoholism to anxiety.

  Cognitive psychotherapy: This one-on-one treatment is aimed at defeating unproductive or damaging cycles of thinking.

  Behavioral psychotherapy: Also a type of one-one-one therapy, it focuses on changing immediate behaviors, such as phobias or alcoholism, without digging deep into your history.

  Psychiatry: In addition to providing therapeutic treatment, psychiatrists are generally licensed to prescribe medication and conduct physical exams.

  Expressive therapy: This therapy uses creativity to heal wounds. Art, dance, drama, music, and writing are standard outlets in expressive therapy.