BYUH’s Counseling Services invite students to learn what anxiety is and asks to utilize on-campus mental health-related support and resources
Sister Linda Wilson, a senior missionary and counselor for Counseling Services, said anxiety is stress that becomes unmanageable. Whether triggered by entering a crowded room or spiraling into overthinking, anxiety can cause the body to perceive a situation as a threat. She said this response is common, affecting both the body and the mind.
What is anxiety?
Wilson described anxiety as an inability to cope in certain situations. She said a person’s body sees anxiety as a threat, and the body responds physically and emotionally, making the body uncomfortable. “Your heart rate goes up. Your breathing gets quicker. Your mind goes blank—those are common responses,” she explained.
Wilson continued anxiety is no longer helpful when it begins to harm functioning. Using an introverted person as an example, she said someone entering a meeting with a large group might immediately think, “I won’t know what to say. What if I say something dumb?” The body becomes activated, she said, and the mind begins telling unhelpful stories.
Stress vs. anxiety: What’s the difference?
Wilson said it is important to distinguish between normal stress and anxiety. A certain level of stress is necessary for motivation, she explained. Without it, people may struggle to complete basic tasks such as getting dressed or going to class. “If you have a healthy amount of stress, you prepare, work hard and do well. But if stress becomes too much, productivity decreases,” Wilson said.
Anxiety, she added, exists on that same continuum but becomes problematic when it feels unmanageable or persistent. Unlike everyday stress tied to a single event, anxiety often involves ongoing worry across multiple areas of life. Symptoms can include muscle tension, stomachaches, appetite changes, difficulty concentrating, irritability, restlessness, sleep problems and fatigue. For generalized anxiety disorder, symptoms must persist for at least six months.
Panic attacks, by contrast, represent a more intense point on the spectrum. “It’s more a matter of degrees,” Wilson said, noting they are typically sudden and may involve hyperventilation, shaking and an acute surge of fear.
Social media and the misconception on anxiety
Mika Konno, an alumnus of BYUH and an intern at the Counseling Services, said there are a lot of misconceptions about anxiety amplified by social media use. “People could already label normal stress or nervousness as anxiety, even when it’s manageable,” she expressed. Konno said self-diagnosis can lead to misunderstandings and inaccurate diagnoses.
Wilson continued social media could increase anxiety through comparison. “People constantly compare themselves to intelligence, appearance, and success, which fuels anxiety rather than focusing on learning and growth.”
Wilson said another common misconception is many people see anxiety as something bad. However, she said anxiety is neither good nor bad. She continued other misconceptions are the belief that you cannot do anything about anxiety and that turning into medication is a bad thing. “That’s not true. There are many strategies to help, especially with medication, as it can be a tool for some people when anxiety turns dysfunctional—but you do not have to be on it forever,” she said.
Seeking help & coping mechanism
Wilson said people can learn to manage anxiety by expanding what she calls a “window of tolerance,” the capacity to function even in uncomfortable situations. “One strategy is changing how we talk to ourselves,” she said. Instead of thinking, “I’ll have nothing to say,” she suggested responding with compassion: “I’ll focus on talking to one person. I can make friends.”
Over time, that self-talk changes how we respond to those less familiar situations, Wilson said.
Sharing her own experience, Konno said coping mechanisms such as deep breathing and reflecting long-term questions about her own safety helped her to understand and manage her anxiety over time. Wilson added by noticing our thoughts, challenging negativity and doing what we value helps us to expose our brain to learn that we’re capable of dealing with anxiety.
Wilson said it is important to be self-aware and know when to seek help, especially when it comes to mental health. BYUH’s Counseling Services has counselors to give tools such as individual, couple or group counseling for the moment or long term that you feel stuck or difficult to manage yourself, Konno said. “Counselors help you break negative stories and see yourself through a healthier, more compassionate lens. Even just talking helps you realize you’re not weird—you’re human,” Wilson said.
“Stretch yourself. Reach out to your trusted people. If you’re still stuck, come see us. Counseling Services is a safe, compassionate place,” Wilson added.
BYUH Counseling Services website