Introduction 

Nowadays we often encounter mental health topics, one of which is anxiety disorders. There are many anxiety disorders that we encounter, especially those experienced by students in their daily lives, such as academic anxiety. What is academic anxiety? Academic anxiety is a mental health problem that is often discussed among students. Suarti (2020) defines Academic anxiety as a feeling of danger, worry, fear and tension that is obtained due to pressure in the place where someone is carrying out education. Anyone can experience anxiety because anxiety and worry within normal limits are an inseparable part of humans. Therefore, everyone should experience it, including students. 

Factors 

Academic anxiety experienced by students can be influenced by factors such as age, health status, experience, and also gender, women more often feel anxiety because of their inability compared to men. men are more active, brave, and like to explore something new, which is not yet known by many people, while women are usually more sensitive. Many feelings of anxiety are found on campus, namely when working on assignments, when told to come forward, or when taking exams. According to Pasiak (2009), women are twice as likely as men to suffer from depression, anxiety, and other emotional disorders. However, there are also several other factors that can cause anxiety levels in students, including past experiences in lectures, having financial burdens, excessive study loads, hanging out with friends who disagree, and others.

Source: https://sayaberani.org/gangguan-kecemasan-yang-perlu-kamu-ketahui/ 

Impact 

This academic anxiety if it occurs continuously and is experienced by students will have an impact such as more serious mental health disorders, having more anxiety or occurring continuously and not being properly addressed can develop into more serious mental health disorders such as anxiety disorders, clinical depression, and even post-traumatic stress disorder. The next impact is a decrease in academic performance, students who constantly feel stress or anxiety can experience a drastic decrease in their academic performance. This can lead to lower grades, failing assignments and exams, and even delayed or non-graduation. 

Greater social isolation, unaddressed anxiety and stress can exacerbate social isolation, such students tend to avoid social interaction and prefer to isolate themselves from others. Increased risk of destructive behavior, students who experience anxiety that cannot be handled properly will tend to behave in self-destructive ways such as substance abuse and can commit acts of self-harm. The last impact is that they can experience more severe physical health problems such as sleep disorders, immune system problems, and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. 

Variations of Students with Anxiety Disorders 

Anxiety disorders often occur in first-year and final-year students. First-year students experience anxiety disorders due to the culture shock of transitioning from a high school environment to a college environment where students must adapt and adjust to the surrounding environment and relatively high academic pressure. Final year students are also vulnerable to anxiety disorders due to undergoing final assignments and thinking about graduation requirements. Students who are pressured by academic demands become one of the variations of students who experience anxiety disorders. Other influencing factors are financial burden, working while studying, disruption of sleep and wake time, fulfillment of family expectations, and others. 

There are several anxiety disorders that are often felt by students such as depression, many things that make students can be affected by depression due to lack of management in managing time. Competition that is increasingly visible during college makes students become insecure about their abilities and feel they cannot do anything compared to their friends. The next anxiety disorder is insomnia, studying and doing assignments make students not sleep until late at night. This insomnia makes a lack of time to rest and makes the brain feel tired, making it difficult to concentrate and think well. Eating disorders are also common

among students. When noticing changes in eating patterns, such as eating more or too little. It is best to improve your diet, to increase fruits and vegetables. Fulfilled nutrition and nutrition can help make it easier to undergo tasks as a student. Then take the time to exercise, take a short break, and do fun activities in the midst of many activities as a student. Not only physical health is needed, to be a student, but mental health is also needed by students to realize their goals. 

How to overcome (countermeasures) 

Academic anxiety disorder can be treated with pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment methods. Several peer-reviewed studies found that although pharmacological treatments such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have traditionally been used to treat anxiety, some people are unable to take these drugs due to side effects or indications. While non-drug treatments can be used to reduce anxiety through aromatherapy, massage, relaxation techniques, mental therapy, and music therapy. It can also be done with exercise and physical activity. Regular exercise can help release endorphins, hormones that can improve mood and reduce stress. 

So, there is only one way to happiness, and that is to stop worrying about things that are beyond our control. 

Reference Source: 

Novitria, F., & Khoirunnisa, R. N. (2020). Differences in Academic Anxiety in Freshmen Majoring in Psychology in View of Gender. Journal of Psychology Research, 9(1), 11-20. Kompasiana. (2020). Academic Anxiety, a Rampant Anxiety Disorder Experienced by Students. Accessed on October 24, 2023, from 

https://www.kompasiana.com/alenafridaymadusha0890/62bbeab60d82300fdb6a5342/academ ic-anxiety-gangguan-kecemasan-yang-marak-dialami-oleh-mahasiswa 

Kompasiana. (2023). Increased Stress in College Students: Mental Health Challenges in the Education Era. Accessed on October 26, 2023, from 

https://www.kompasiana.com/febrianmuhamadsatriyawibowo0754/65307ac5edff7606b315eb 53/meningkatnya-stress-pada-mahasiswa-tantangan-kesehatan-mental-di-era-pendidikan Halodoc. (2018). 4 Mental Disorders that Students are Prone to. Accessed on November 4, 2023, from 

https://www.halodoc.com/artikel/4-gangguan-mental-yang-rentan-dialami-mahasiswa

Author

1. Syaira Salsabila
2. Rahma Febrian Nurzahra
3. Rahmah Fadhilah Husna
4. Sherin Andrea Putri