Review of Related Literatures

This chapter presents some relevant reading materials that the researchers employed to
their whole study. The related literature and studies dealt with the theories, concepts, and
principles that were gathered to further comprehend, enrich, and to provide a deeper insight for
the researchers. All these materials and references included both foreign and local literature and
studies.
Foreign Literature
Anxiety is a general term for several disorders that cause nervousness, fear, apprehension,
and worrying. These disorders affect how we feel and behave, and they can manifest real
physical symptoms. Mild anxiety is vague and unsettling, while severe anxiety can be extremely
debilitating, having a serious impact on daily life.
People often experience a general state of worry or fear before confronting something
challenging such as a test, examination, recital, or interview. These feelings are easily justified
and considered normal. Anxiety is considered a problem when symptoms interfere with a
person's ability to sleep or otherwise function. Generally speaking, anxiety occurs when a
reaction is out of proportion with what might be normally expected in a situation. (Crosta, 2009;
2013)
During college, students deal with a unique amount of stressors. Specifically, college
calls for a significant transition, where students experience many firsts, including new lifestyle,
friends, roommates, exposure to new cultures and alternate ways of thinking. When students

cant manage these firsts, theyre more likely to struggle. If students do not feel adequate or
prepared to cope with the new environment of a college campus, they could easily become
susceptible to depression and anxiety. Feelings of inadequacy can stem from academic stressors.
In college, competition is much more significant so there is the palpable pressure to do well,
whether the demands come from parents or the student. Adjusting to college also influences
identity a phenomenon Silver has termed Identity Disorientation. When students head off to
college, the familiar people are no longer there to reinforce the identity these students have
created for themselves. This can make students disoriented and feel a loss of their sense of self,
contributing to symptoms of depression and anxiety.
A shaky identity and lack of confidence can lead college students to make poor choices
about drinking and drugs. For some students, college isnt the first time they encounter
depression and anxiety. Because of advancements in psychotherapy and medication, some
students matriculate into college who has had a previous psychological disorder. (Tartakovsky,
2008)
About 8 percent of todays U.S. teens suffer from some type of diagnosed anxiety
disorder, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. And anxiety has been on the rise
among children and young adults since at least the 1950s. School counselors and nurses alike
have cited increased amounts of stress, pressure, social media, and divorce as causes for this
surge in anxiety that has not only affected the teens who suffer but school administrators trying
to help their students. Things have changed dramatically with my students over the past couple
of decades, said Dr. Sharon Sevier, chair of the board of The American School Counselor
Association and counselor at Lafayette High School in St. Louis. Early in my career, I saw very
few mental-health issues, and the home and family issues were rarer. Sevier said she now

encounters students with anxiety on a daily basis. Thirty years ago, Sevier said she dealt with
more normal teenage issues, such as conflicts with parents, friends, and significant others.
Also, increased amount of testing teenagers face today, including the SAT, SAT Subject tests,
PSAT, ACT, IB, and AP exams, additionally contribute to stress and anxiety. And overcommitment, between school, sports, a social life, and family obligations, becomes a balancing
act that students can have trouble dealing with. (Dwyer, 2014)

Local Literature
It is normal for an individual to feel apprehensive prior a job interview or prior an
examination. However, if the anxiety level is too overwhelming and already affecting ones level
of occupational, social and academic functioning, then most likely one already has anxiety.
Anxiety attacks are also called panic attacks, and are described as periods of severe panic or fear.
They usually occur suddenly and without warning. Usual symptoms of anxiety include some
physical signs like palpitations, chest tightness, hyperventilation, weakness or tremors among
others. Some cognitive signs include thoughts that you cant do it, thoughts that you may have a
heart attack, thoughts that you might make a fool of yourself, thoughts that you cannot go alone,
thoughts that you may become crazy or thoughts that someone may be staring at you. Some
emotional signs include fear, panic, anger, nervousness, feeling on the edge, excessive worrying,
uneasy feeling, feeling of doom and helplessness, or loneliness and isolation.
Seeking professional help to relieve these anxiety symptoms must be considered. A
combination of supportive psychotherapy, psychopharmacotherapy (antidepressants or antianxiety medications) and other behavioral modalities may be utilized. Cognitive-behavioral

therapy (CBT) can also be very effective in the treatment of panic attacks. CBT may be used
alone, or together with medications. During CBT, the trained therapist helps the anxious
individual identify thought patterns that contribute to anxiety or panic attacks. Then after
identifying these harmful thoughts, the anxious individual can now focus on altering his or her
destructive thoughts and learn to adapt more helpful behaviors. According to the Information
Education Campaign Bookmarks on Mental Health (launched in 2007 by the Philippine
Psychiatric Association, Inc. (PPA) Committee on Advocacy, Legislation and Media (CALM),
then headed by Dr. Jose V. Cruz, Jr. with members Doctors Venus Serra-Arain, Isagani Gonzales,
Antonio Gauzon, Ruby Manalastas, Luz Katigbak and this author), mental health is wealth.
Mental health is a balance of all aspects of life physical, emotional, social and
spiritual. There are 10 ways to attain mental health: a sensible healthy diet, avoiding prohibited
substances, sleeping right, scheduled time to exercise and relax, organized living space and time,
self-awareness, self-satisfaction, socialization, sports and hobbies and spirituality. A person with
a good state of mental health is happy, content, satisfied and at peace with himself and others,
independent, sociable, active, productive and can adapt. (Halili-Jao, 2013)

References:
http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/10/when-anxiety-hits-at-school/380622/
http://psychcentral.com/disorders/anxiety/
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/info/anxiety/

http://www.philstar.com:8080/allure/2013/09/08/1183491/help-am-having-anxiety-attack