Going abroad to study is a huge challenge. It opens a lot of doors, it broadens you mentally as a person, changing your worldview. This is quite overwhelming, but also very stressful.
Unfortunately, not all people have enough stress resistance to go through the adaptation process and the problems that may occur. Some fall to mental health issues that are just around the corner for those who haven't learned how to cope with stress.
Challenges International Students Face
Disorders aren't established out of the blue, there's always a reason, although it's true that a lot of people inherit predispositions genetically. But talking about international students, these are the challenges they face that may lead to mental health issues:
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Unrealistic expectations;
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Language barriers;
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Accumulating stress;
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Fears of disappointing someone;
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New educational system, etc.
There are some things that will help:
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Don't rely on expectations when making a big move like going abroad;
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Attend language courses to understand the basic phrases you will hear;
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Use expert essay writing help when it comes to written assignments by using professional essay writing services like AdvancedWriters to ease your adaptation process.
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Find out more about the educational system of your new college by surfing relevant websites and forums.
Let's learn what those stressors may lead to, recognize them, and fight them when necessary.
Adjustment Disorder
A common mental health problem among international students is adjustment disorder. It's a combination of emotional and physical symptoms that are connected to hardships with adjusting to new surroundings.
Moving abroad to study brings a lot of new places, sounds, sights, people, etc. with it. Some students may find it difficult getting used to that. Stress accumulates and develops into the disorder, usually within 3 months.
Here are some symptoms:
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Constant anxiety;
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Feeling left out;
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Nervous tension;
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Nausea;
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Irregular heartbeat;
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Isolation, etc.
Treatment
The first thing to do is to go to a specialist for testing to confirm or deny the diagnosis. Ask your college if they can help you find a good psychiatrist.
In case you've been diagnosed, you may get:
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Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) where your doctor will talk to you, helping you open up about your emotions and teach you how to cope with them;
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Group therapy, which is similar to CBT, but is conducted with a group of people that have the same kind of disorder;
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Medication if you have severe anxiety or sleep deprivation.
You'll get better within half a year if there are no complications.
Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders are a group of mental health conditions that cause uncontrollable worry and fear. Here, we're talking about the kind of anxiety that gives chest pains and nightmares. It's not about the usual emotional tingling when meeting new people.
Most Common Types of Anxiety Disorders
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) involves severe worry and fear regarding one's health, social interactions, and everyday tasks. Symptoms include:
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Feeling on-edge all the time;
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Difficulties focusing;
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Frequent fatigue;
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Irritability;
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Muscle tension, etc.
Panic disorder involves sudden panic attacks that can happen unexpectedly or be triggered by a feared situation or object. The attack reaches its full strength within minutes.
During the episode, one may experience:
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Accelerated or irregular heartbeat;
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Shaking;
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Feeling of powerlessness;
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Shortness of breath;
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Sweating, etc.
These disorders make a person more isolated as they try to prevent anxiety or panic attacks. This may lead to different phobias that will only contribute to the disorder. The most frequent phobia of that kind is agoraphobia, which involves fears of:
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Public transportation;
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Open spaces;
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Enclosed spaces;
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Social gatherings or queues, etc.
Treatment
Traditional treatment includes:
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CBT;
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Medication.
Sometimes the symptoms may recur even after extensive treatment, but if it happens, you will know how to cope with them.
Depression
Depression is a severe mood disorder that interferes with your ability to perform everyday tasks.
Symptoms of depression include (given they reoccur most days):
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Feelings of sadness and emptiness;
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Pessimism;
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Irritability;
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Feeling of hopelessness and powerlessness;
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Slower talking and movements;
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Fatigue;
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Loss of interest in things you used to find pleasurable;
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Appetite/weight fluctuations;
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Aches and pains that don't have any physical cause, etc.
If you have these symptoms for over two weeks, it's time to get treatment.
Treatment
There are several types of depression, and they are all treated differently. There's no ultimate medicine or therapy that will help. It's crucial that you have a specialist familiar with your case, they will choose the best treatment for you.
Here are some types of depression treatment:
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Psychotherapy;
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Medication;
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Brain stimulation therapy, etc.
Note: Oftentimes, people with severe depression have recurring suicidal thoughts. If you or your friend/family member/etc. are suffering from depression, have needed medication and a suicide hotline number at hand all the time.
All Mental Health Issues Are Controllable
Now that we know the faces of the possible mental health problems in higher education, let's remember that they are all treatable. Unfortunately, only about one-third of affected seeks professional help. It's important to talk about it, raise awareness, and realize it's alright to have hardships and ask for help when needed.
