Behind the Smile: The Hidden Struggle of Student Anxiety

More than 60 percent of students say anxiety affects their daily life, according to the American College Health Association. It is a constant presence for many, even if no one else can see it.

I remember walking through the school day doing everything I was supposed to. Going to class, turning in assignments, talking to people. On the outside, I looked fine. But inside, I felt off. For me, it was smiling with a knot in my throat, trying to seem okay while my thoughts kept spinning. It was a kind of mental exhaustion that sleep never really fixed. Some days it felt more like numbness, like I was just going through the motions without really feeling much at all. I didn’t know what to call it, and I didn’t know what to do with it, so I just kept going.

The impact was more than emotional. It made focusing harder, relationships more distant, and everyday tasks feel overwhelming. I was doing everything I was expected to, but it felt like I was carrying something no one could see or understand.

What helped was realizing I didn’t have to do it alone. Support doesn’t mean everything suddenly gets better, but it makes the weight feel lighter. Tools like Inner Peak give students a way to check in, feel seen, and access help, whether it is during a packed school day or late at night when everything feels heavier. Small moments of support, built into your routine, can help you move from overwhelmed to a little more in control.

Reference: American College Health Association. (2023). National College Health Assessment.