College can be an exciting time for many young adults; it is where they experience many firsts, including a new lifestyle, friends, roommates, exposure to new cultures and a wide-variety of principles and thinking. Unfortunately, when many students are unable to handle these firsts, they’re more likely to struggle. Insecure and unable to manage the new environment or adjustments they can become susceptible to depression and anxiety.

In fact, the average onset for many mental health conditions is around the ages of 18 to 24, when many young adults find themselves attending college. According to the 2006 American College Health Association Survey, 45 percent of women and 36 percent of men felt so depressed that it was difficult to function.

Why Do So Many Young Adults Find Themselves Struggling?

Many young adults may find themselves feeling lost because the familiar people in their lives are no longer there to reinforce their identity, this leaves the student feeling disoriented and lacking confidence in their sense of self. Academic stressors can cultivate feelings of inadequacy, this combined with outside pressure of parental expectations can quite often become overwhelming to a person who is already dealing with so much going on in their lives.

This combination of a lack of confidence and a precarious identity can lead young adults to make poor decisions regarding drinking and drugs. In fact, according to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) report, Wasting the Best and the Brightest: Substance Abuse at America’s Colleges and Universities, 45 percent of college students binge drink and nearly 21 percent abuse prescription or illegal drugs.

This explosion in the intensity of substance abuse among college students carries devastating consequences. Each year:

• More than 1,700 students die from alcohol poisoning and alcohol-related injuries
• 700,000 students are assaulted by classmates who were drinking
• Almost 100,000 students are victims of alcohol-related sexual assaults and rapes

Dealing with the Aftermath

Young adults ages 18 to 26 often have a perception of feeling “in-between,” knowing they are free from adolescent struggles and looking for independence. When a young adult is unable to cope with the rigors of academic life and find themselves dismissed from college, they along with their parents may not know what to do.

They may be asking themselves, “How do I deal with my child’s addiction issues?” “How can I help my child resolve their traumatic experience?” or even more plainly, “How can I get my son or daughter back on track for a successful life?”

It’s Time to Call the Claudia Black Young Adult Center

A key to long-term recovery for young adults is finding a way to tap into an overall sense of purpose. At the Claudia Black Young Adult Center, we have developed a customized approach to target this unique population. Addictions, emotional trauma, and certain mood disorders may surface during this time period in a person’s life and may be connected to the presence of a dysregulated brainstem. The Claudia Black Young Adult Center understands the enormous complexity of how the human brain functions in young adults. We utilize proven treatments to help regulate our patients during the healing process, allowing them to embrace long-term recovery.

The Claudia Black Young Adult Center in Wickenburg, Arizona, provides an intensive, experientially-based 45-day treatment program for young adults ages 18 to 26 who are struggling with unresolved emotional trauma, addiction, have a dual diagnosis or who have failed past addiction treatments. Dr. Claudia Black – renowned author, speaker, and trainer who has been working with family systems and addictive disorders since the 1970s – is the clinical architect of the Claudia Black Young Adult Center.

In a safe and nurturing community composed of their peers, young adults are guided on their journey of recovery by examining the underlying causes of addiction and co-occurring disorders. The goal is for these individuals to gain the courage to face difficult issues, including grief and loss; heal from emotional trauma; and become accountable for their own feelings, behaviors, and recovery.

Contact us today to learn more about how our world-class treatment program can empower your child and set them on a course for success.