Pre-COVID I was one of the most anxious, tightly-wound individuals you could’ve met. And now, just shy of two years since the pandemic hit the states by storm, I haven’t gotten much better in regards to being an anxious wreck. Navigating college, two jobs, and a social life can get tedious, but luckily I’ve discovered some resources that helped with my anxiety and other mental ailments that I’m going to share with you.
Resources at CU-Boulder:
Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS):
One of my favorite services that CU offers to their students is Counseling and Psychiatric Services, also known as CAPS, located in the Center for Community building. According to their website, CAPS “…offers confidential, on-campus mental health and psychiatric services for a variety of concerns such as academics, anxiety, body image, depression, relationships, substance use and more.” This was one of the first stops I made with my mother when I moved out to Boulder to start my collegiate career. At the time I was struggling with extreme anxiety from all the changes in my life, and I knew the most important thing to prioritize was my mental health. CAPS offers a variety of unique sessions that range from a casual individual appointment that can last 10-30 minutes to a more structured screening appointment that will give you a chance to figure out a mental health route that’s tailored for you specifically!
Workshops Offered Within CAPS:
Additionally, CAPS offers excellent workshops that take place in groups if you aren’t quite comfortable with or in need of one-on-one sessions. One of the workshops recommended to me was the Anxiety Toolbox which meets a variety of times throughout the week! This workshop is a two seminar fast-paced meeting that will educate you about anxiety and help you cope with your anxiety in a healthy manner and equip you with the skills and exercises to conquer your anxiety! There are many other workshops that you can explore which include sessions that teach you about the biological and physiological factors that can affect anxiety, how to handle different mental disorders, and a meditative weekly session where you will be taken through a guided meditation.
However, with all the pros that can come with a service, there are also cons. One of the downfalls to CAPS is that it’s a resource that has limited staff. You have to keep in mind that CAPS is a service offered to anyone and everyone who is associated with CU, which makes it difficult to schedule regular appointments as CU has a student body of roughly 33,000 undergraduates. So even if you’re covered under the CU insurance plan, chances are you’ll only be in to see a provider once every three to four weeks. If you’re looking for weekly sessions or long-term therapy, there is an excellent resource they provide for you, which brings me to my next point!
Thriving Campus
As someone who needs to attend weekly therapy sessions for my mental health and has a need for consistency, this resource was a very valuable one I discovered. Thriving Campus is a platform that allows you to search for a therapist that will fit you. For me, a critical factor in finding a therapist that fits me was a need for the provider to be covered under my insurance so I don’t have to worry about out-of-pocket expenses. This platform allows you to tailor your search to specific insurances so it takes the financial stress factor out of the equation! You can also narrow your search down by looking for a therapist that specializes in your specific mental health disorder, whether that’s a disorder like anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, etc. or a therapist that specializes in practice areas like financial burdens, sexuality exploration, or substance abuse. Lastly, to ensure you feel comfortable with your provider, you can also critique your search to your specific preferences like gender, age, and religion to make sure your therapist is someone you feel as comfortable as possible with.
Larson Mental Health
I had my first appointment with Larson Mental Health my freshman year of college. I was at Wardenburg Health Clinic for an annual appointment and my doctor noticed I had answered the questionnaire given to patients before the appointment with responses that were essentially a cry for help. I was no longer on any medication that was greatly needed and didn’t have a psychiatrist in Boulder as I was still getting settled in. While I don’t always think meds are the answer, oftentimes they are a step in the right direction. Your initial appointment with Larson Mental Health will be an hour-long session with a medical provider to first establish a good understanding of what’s going on in your life physically and mentally. After clarifying your situation, a psychiatrist will listen to your situation so they have a clear understanding of what’s going on and can best figure out what meds to place you on. It is important to note that this initial consultation is $300 and if you don’t show up or cancel early enough you will be charged the full amount! After that first appointment, you’ll have a check up four weeks after to discuss how your meds are affecting you and to ensure there haven’t been any negative side effects that have a detrimental effect on you. It’s extremely important to remember that meds alone won’t be the key to solving mental health issues so you shouldn’t feel discouraged if you don’t see any changes immediately. You also need to stay consistent on your meds and will see the biggest end results by taking them at the same time each day. While trying new meds and having to go through the adjustment process can be difficult it’s important to trust that your psychiatrist knows how to do their job.
In conclusion, it’s a tedious process to juggle your academics, social life, and mental health, but it’s a path worth discovering. Hopefully, with classes in-person and clubs resuming pre-COVID functions, you’re not getting too overwhelmed with all the changes rapidly happening. It’s important to remember that dealing with feelings like anxiety and depression is normal and there are so many resources that are out there to help you process and persevere through those feelings. Whether it’s therapy, workshops, adjusting your meds, or simply taking time to meditate throughout your day, always remember the most important part of mental health is to take care of yourself and prioritize your needs.