Navigating College Life
School is stressful – no matter your age or major.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re just out of high school, starting college later in life, or coming back to college after living life for a while.
The ever-changing technology can send shivers up your spine!
Plus, there’s so much NEW in your life: a new schedule, new classes, new exams, new relationships, and new people from different cultures and walks of life.
There are also new expectations from others about what your college journey should look like and what you should come away with on the other side of it. Family, friends, work, church… they all have opinions, and that’s not always an easy weight to bear.
And then there’s the time commitment! Studying, extracurricular activities, and other school responsibilities consume your life before and after school.
And there are a million other “little things” to deal with, like drama at home (or homesickness if you’re away), annoying roommates, needy kids, awful teachers, a sucky exam grade… it never stops.
Managing all this requires constant flexibility and adaptability, and life continues to demand our attention no matter how hard we grab the reins and yell, “Whoa! I said, Whoa!”
Jumping into this “new normal” is a growing experience, but…
It can be scary and stressful at times.
And, whether you realize it or not, these new changes and responsibilities have the potential to impact your overall well-being. Though exciting, these ever-changing parts of life as a new student can be “too much” to handle alone.
A survey of more than 63,000 students at 92 universities from the American College Health Association reports that 39% of all students surveyed felt “so depressed that it was difficult to function” at some point during the previous year. Nearly 61% felt “overwhelming anxiety,” and 87% felt “overwhelmed by all you had to do.” Those numbers are from 2017. Can you imagine what they are now??
So, if you’re in college and struggling, you’re not alone!
That’s why it’s okay to ask for help.
When you ask for help, you’re developing a proactive mindset and designing a better self. There is weakness in not asking for help and forging ahead all by your lonesome until you either fail or end up asking for help only after things have gotten worse or the damage done – like crappy grades, withdrawals, or dismissal from school.
You don’t have to be in crisis to seek help.
Think of how often we punish ourselves by choosing to wait until we “hit the wall” or “crash and burn.” Don’t minimize or put on your “no big deal… no worries… it’s all good” face when it’s not all good.
There are campus resources that can help, but they’re limited.
I know because I’m also a college counselor, and I’ve seen how college mental health services only have enough resources to “cover the basics.”
Your college’s health center can provide you a “first aid kit” of free sessions, which may be enough of a Band-Aid to cover your symptoms. Students are often referred to people like me who uncover the bandage and look deeply into the problems that are festering and causing pain.
Therapy’s really what will save your sanity.
Now, I know what you MIGHT be thinking…
You might be thinking that you can do this alone…
… or that you don’t have time for therapy…
… or that you might not be able to afford it.
But think of this next time you’re spending money on temporary feel-good clicks, aspiring to become a social media icon, driving through Starbucks, pulling out some cannabis, or treating yourself to a day at Happy Nails…
Wouldn’t you rather invest that money in what really matters… your better self??
No more excuses…
Saying things like “I don’t have time,” “I can’t afford it,” “I’m not that stressed (as you slam doors and yell profanities at your cat or worse),” or “I can handle this on my own” as you sit in a dark corner with a blanket over your head eating Cheetos… they’re lame.
If you want to grow and be proactive and enjoy this crazy all-encompassing time of your life, then you have to CHOOSE to do it.
Therapy is how you’re going to get back on track…
Sadly, particular cultures or family systems stigmatize going to therapy, which can keep you from getting the help you need. Remember, though: Your life is about you, and it’s your decision whether you want to find a therapist and create a better you.
Know that you can take ownership of your life and still respect and love your family. I’ve had some students in this boat who eventually brought in their family members to their therapy sessions, and those same family members became eager to try therapy themselves!
Did you know that a professional code of ethics binds therapists like me to protect your information – that what we discuss will stay between us? The only exceptions are when you might harm yourself or others or if I’m mandated to by a court order.
So, there’s no need to feel nervous or embarrassed about your friends or family finding out about us. It’s our secret. And if I see you in public, you may see my eyes smile, but I will not interact with you. And if you greet me, I will greet you back. That’s it. It’s confidential.
Therapy is probably more flexible than you think.
We can chat over the phone or meet for video sessions if you feel uncomfortable meeting face-to-face. And just like in-person sessions, any video links we use will be using a private, secure platform, so you can trust that it’ll remain confidential.
We also don’t have to meet every week. Going to therapy once doesn’t mean you’re committing to a certain number of sessions. You can go as little or as much as you need. If you are really struggling or have nearly “hit the wall,” I recommend at least once or even twice per week at first until you feel more in control over your life. From there, you can always change it up with phone/video sessions or walk-and-talk therapy in nature.
Therapy can be as much or as little as you need it to be.
It’s empowering to do a small thing for yourself.
Take the first step. Call me and let’s chat. We can figure out if you only need resources at your campus or whether you need something deeper and more lasting like LifeWise Counseling and Therapy.
It’s like giving yourself a huge transformational hug to make things better. You deserve that.
Make the decision to prioritize the most important person in your life (which can be incredibly hard to do when you’re in college). I know. I’ve been there and done that… multiple times.
You got this! Give me a call: (949) 933-1242.