Academic Stress and Feeling Overwhelmed

College comes with a lot to manage — classes, exams, deadlines, work, relationships and other responsibilities. Stress can build, and sometimes everything can start to feel like too much.

Academic stress is a common reason students reach out to CMHC. You don’t have to wait until you feel overwhelmed or know exactly what kind of support you need to talk with someone.

What Academic Stress Can Look Like

You might:

• Feel like you can’t keep up with everything you need to do
• Constantly worry about assignments, grades or deadlines
• Have difficulty concentrating or making decisions
• Feel anxious, irritable or on edge
• Have trouble sleeping or feel tired throughout the day
• Avoid assignments because they feel overwhelming
• Feel like you never have time to relax or take a break

Things You Can Try

• Identify one or two things that need your attention first instead of trying to tackle everything at once.
• Turn large assignments or projects into smaller, specific steps that feel more manageable.
• Give yourself permission to step away from schoolwork. Short breaks, movement, time outside or connecting with others can help you reset.
• Eating regularly, getting enough sleep and making time for movement can make it easier to manage stressful periods.
• Sharing what’s going on with a friend, family member, professor, adviser or counselor can help you feel less alone and identify possible next steps.

Talking With a Counselor

You don’t have to wait until academic stress feels unmanageable to talk with someone. A counselor can help you understand what’s contributing to your stress, explore ways to manage it and think through your next steps.

Consider reaching out if academic stress keeps coming up, is affecting other areas of your life or you simply think talking with someone could help.

Get Support From CMHC

Not sure where to start? That’s okay.

Call CMHC at 512-471-3515 and select option 3. You’ll have a brief conversation with a counselor about what’s going on, and we’ll help you figure out what kind of support may be helpful.

You can also connect with your school or college’s CARE counselor or schedule single-session counseling at CMHC @ WCP.