Anxiety Therapy, Perfectionism, and College During Covid
(Originally posted October 10, 2021, updated for April 22, 2022)
Teen therapy and anxiety therapy for college students in St. Louis
Hi there! Are you feeling a little overwhelmed with then end of the school year?
It’s hard to plan for anything these days. You might be noticing feelings of anxiety or overwhelm more often than you have before. This school year may have felt easier than 2020, but it probably is still transitioning from how you originally envisioned it. The typical anxieties you’re probably used to are magnified by the added stress of covid and post-covid. You’re hanging on, but this year was not ideal. And you’re wondering what it’s going to be like next year, too.
Perfectionism and overwhelm are really common if you’re a successful student.
In some ways, it can seem like perfectionism is what makes you such a great student. But unfortunately, perfectionism can also get in the way of what you’re doing in school. And if you’re already dealing with the overwhelm of being in college, Covid management procedures, midterms, and projects, you’ve got a lot on your plate.
Sometimes, all it takes is one little stress to tip the scales.
Just one extra small upset, and suddenly you can’t handle it anymore. So below, you’ll find our top tips for midterms, college, and Covid, all while managing your anxiety and perfectionism.
College and Teen Therapy Tip #1: Remember, there’s an adjustment period.
We all get used to certain routines and schedules, and we even got used to Covid protocols in 2020 and 2021. But we’re dealing with this new period of post-Covid (or at least everyone being ready to just BE DONE with Covid).
It’s important to remember that everyone is experiencing these changes and no one expects you to be fully prepared for them. You need time to adjust. Every new experience comes with new challenges and it’s okay to feel a little uncomfortable!
College and Teen Therapy Tip #2: Focus on the things you are in charge of.
There are so many things that feel out of our control right now, so it’s important to find the things that can ground us. What are the things that help you stay motivated in school? What are your favorite tools to use when you’re starting to feel swamped?
There are so many things that we’re not in charge of. We’re not in charge of our test schedule. We’re not in charge of our college’s Covid protocol. We’re not in charge of our teachers or our classmates or our case counts. We’re not in charge of whether or not we got our summer internship!
What are we in charge of? Ourselves. So we get to decide how we handle any and all stressors that come our way. And we get to decide when we need to power through something, and when we need to take a break.
College and Teen Therapy Tip #3: Don’t forget the importance of relaxation skills for anxiety.
We know that anxiety can lead to angry outbursts, irritability and panicked thoughts so it’s important to remember to breathe. Relaxation helps us slow down and shift our focus to something other than what’s causing us those anxious thoughts. Scheduling regular time to meditate, or even just practicing a few deep breaths, can help lower stress levels throughout the week. Below are a few of our favorite meditations to help get you started!
College and Teen Therapy Tip #4: Find your “good enough”
Sometimes, our highschool and college students with perfectionism hold themselves to a too high standard. It can feel really difficult to turn in an assignment that’s not “perfect,” or return a paper that you feel like you could have spent a lot more time on.
The thing about balancing college, Covid, stress, and extracurriculars is recognizing that you can’t do it all. So when there’s something you can take it easy on, or something you can take a step back on, DO IT. If you can get an A instead of an A+ and spend 5 less hours on an assignment, sometimes that’s a great idea. If you can turn in something good enough, rather than not turning it in at all, obviously that’s the better choice!
Brandi Wilson, PLPC is one of our go to therapists for perfectionist college students.
College and Teen Therapy Tip #5: Don’t be afraid to ask for help (maybe even from our therapists!)
This school year is very different and it might even be the first time you or your child have ever experienced anxiety. You may need a little extra help in finding the best way to manage those feelings. That’s where a therapist can really dive in and explore what’s been going on and help handle your overwhelm.
All of our therapists at Compassionate Counseling St. Louis have experience working with kids, teens and college students experiencing feelings of anxiety and anger.
Curious to learn more about perfectionism and anxiety therapy for college students in St. Louis? Compassionate Counseling St. Louis provides specialized anger management and anxiety therapy in St. Louis. \We work in Clayton, MO and serve kids, teens, and college students throughout St. Louis City, St. Louis County, Ladue, University City, Town and Country, Webster Groves, Creve Coeur, Kirkwood, Richmond Heights, and Brentwood. You can set up your free phone screening to see if we’re a good fit for your needs right on our website.
