New friends. Fresh surroundings. Increased responsibilities. Freshman year is filled with exciting new experiences, but it can also cause students to feel anxious and stressed.

"In the beginning, it's normal to feel anxious, so students shouldn't be surprised if they experience some level of anxiety related to the changes and newness that starting college brings." said Dr. Julia Turovsky, associate director of the Anxiety Disorders Clinic at Rutgers' Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology. "Anxiety is often triggered by a lack of predictability, feeling uncertain or unable to control a situation."

The symptoms of anxiety can include being fearful, nervous or edgy and can cause heart palpitations, muscle tension, headaches, insomnia, loss of appetite, gastrointestinal problems, hyperventilating or light-headedness.

According to Turovsky, starting college can also trigger symptoms of sadness or mild depression. "New students may feel homesick, struggle with being separated from their family, friends or familiar surroundings." Symptoms of mild depression may include feeling down or sad, excessive worrying, changes in appetite, trouble sleeping, and difficulty making decisions.

Symptoms of anxiety and mild depression can last days or weeks, but in most cases will improve over time, said Turovsky. She recommends the following tips to make the first year of college more manageable: