Does College cause chemical imbalances?

College is a stressful time for everyone. Trying to do all the extracurricular activities and keep your grades up just to get into the best college you can get takes its toll. Many surveys have been given in colleges around the country to support the theory of rising disorders in college students. These disorders involve depression, schizophrenia, and eating disorders. With the fear of gaining the "freshman 15", many college students grow an obsession with food and weight. Depression also developes when the student is thrown into the new life with no family, none of their old friends (usually); no familiar face to turn to and talk to. These disorders do not show themselves right away. Eating disorders can be seen after it takes effect on the physical appearance of the student. If the fear of the freshman 15 does not start the disorders, the stress of college does. With all the new classes and responisibilities, students can sometimes break down.
I'm not saying that every student that goes to college will develope a disorder, but studies have shown that the disorders are most common in college aged students. Scientists beleive the disorders are a chemical imbalance in the brain. These imbalances affect people differently, so the symptoms are not always the same.
Although the true chemical imbalances are not fully known, once they are we can use this knowlage to help the affected students. Medicines can be perscribed to balance out these chemicals and help them get over the disorder. Chemistry will be the answer to not only decreasing the number of students affected with depression, schizofrenia, and eating disorders in college but at any person who is going through those things.

Works Cited

1. Hill, Jennifer. "Attitudes Towards Mental Disorders Among College Students." 2005. 23 Jan. 2008 .

2. Rockler-Gladen, Naomi. "College Students and Depression." Suit101. 14 Apr. 2007. 23 Jan. 2008 .

3. Woods, Jennifer. "Deadly Thin Rising Among College Students." The Cypress Chronicle. 29 Apr. 2006. 23 Jan. 2008 .