College Stress and Perfectionism

You have always dreamed about college and the freedom that you would get when being away from home. However, you never imagined that college would create this much stress in your life. You cannot sleep, you are constantly worrying about that next assignment, feel pressured to be seen as perfect, but never feel like you measure up. In order to manage the stress of having to get the highest grades, you spend hours studying, only to worry that you are missing out on important aspects of the college experience. Your roommate constantly asks you if you are doing okay because she can see the tension in your body. Your parents ask you multiple times a day if you are doing okay because they are worried how your constant need to out-perform everyone else is affecting you. Mentally, emotionally, and physically you are drained from the constant pressure you put on yourself. College seems more like a chore, rather than something you should be enjoying. Your perfect little dream of being the top of your courses, meeting all the right friends, landing the perfect internship, and becoming independent has started to crumble.

So many people feel overwhelmed by the demands of college when they believe that they have to take on everything and perform perfectly. However, you can learn to manage the stress that comes from all the changes when entering college. It is possible to enjoy this stage of life and create a positive environment for yourself. You have the resources within you to confront the daily stressors that you will encounter during this time in your life. With the ability to rely on your strengths and your support system it is plausible to succeed in your classes, enjoy social activities, and adjust to your new independence.

As a counselor, I am here to help you gain that balance in life in order to be able to cope with the stress that comes from wanting to perform perfectly academically, gaining new independence, and creating new relationships. In order to help you achieve this, we will work together to understand what events cause you to feel stressed, the beliefs that you have in that moment, and work to create more productive beliefs so that you can manage your stress. By supplying you with coping skills such as relaxation and finding activities you enjoy, you can learn that you are good enough and that perfection is never the expectation. I believe that you are strong enough to deal with whatever barriers life throws your way.

If you are ready to work together to create the college experience you want in life, call me today at 402-325-0117 x13 to learn more or schedule an appointment, or book an appointment online!

Shelby Henderson, M.Ed., PLMHP
Adultspan Counseling
1001 S 70th St #225
Lincoln, NE 68510