From the start, women in college often feel they must prove themselves in many ways—be smart, be kind, be beautiful, be helpful. It’s like carrying many heavy boxes: one for schoolwork, one for appearance, and one for helping others. Over time, that weight can make them feel exhausted.
Another part of the burden is worry and fear. Walking alone at night, facing harassment, or being unsafe makes many women live in a state of alert. Then there are women who care for family—siblings, parents, or children—while also keeping up with classes. That invisible labor takes time, energy, and peace.
Money worries add a second layer. If you’re paying for books, sometimes a job, maybe living far from home, it’s hard to rest when bills are always in the back of your mind.
Here are ways that the pressure shows up, often quietly, but powerfully:
- Anxiety. Hearts racing, thoughts spinning, maybe lying awake thinking, “Did I do enough? Will I be okay?”
- Depression. Feeling sad for many days, losing interest in things that once brought joy, or feeling numb.
- Burnout. So tired—emotionally and physically—that getting out of bed or attending class feels like climbing a mountain.
When these feelings stay for a long time, they can hurt grades, friendships, hope, and a sense of self-worth.
How Your Campus Can Help You
Women deserve not just spaces of learning—but places of kindness, safety, and understanding. See if your campus has the following:
- Free or low-cost counseling so that money isn’t a barrier.
- Groups just for women to talk in a safe place about body image, stress, trauma, relationships.
- Counseling staff who are trained, and reflect different cultures, backgrounds, or races that match your experiences.
Get support from Friends and Mentors
- Attend programs where students listen to one another, share stories, and remind each other: you are not alone.
- Find circles or women’s groups where people can breathe, laugh, cry, and heal together.
- Seek out mentorships: older students guiding younger ones, showing that it’s okay to ask questions, to need help, and to take rest.
- Reach out to Title IX offices or Disability Services for accommodations when you need them.
How You Can Nurture Your Own Mind and Heart
It means more than checking “self-care” on a list—it means small caring actions, each day, that add up.
- Set soft boundaries. It’s okay to say “no” when you’re overbooked or tired.
- Stay connected. Friends who listen. Mentors who believe in you. These connections make a difference.
- Move & rest. A walk in the sun, stretching, enough sleep—your body tells your mind it’s safe.
- Reach out early. Talk to a counselor or trusted person before you feel completely overwhelmed. It’s brave and wise.
You are strong, wise, and full of hope. With care, support, and rest, healing is possible.
By Elizabeth Troyer
References
- National College Health Assessment (Spring 2023) — American College Health Association. ACHA-NCHA Spring 2023 PDF (ACHA)
- Stress in America 2023: A Nation Recovering from Collective Trauma — American Psychological Association. APA Stress in America report (American Psychological Association)
- For data about how many students report high stress, needing mental health services, etc., see the ACHA’s National College Health Assessment main page. ACHA-NCHA Data & Results (ACHA)
