Young Adult Counseling

You thought, Surely my 20s will be better…

High school was hard. Maybe college is not that much better. Or you’re finding out that being in your 20s is not as easy as you’d hoped it would be. 

It turns out that adulting is not at all easy. The college and 20-something years are actually really hard.  

It’s so normal to struggle in your 20s, but no one told you that it would be. They had suggested it would be “the best years of your life.” 

It’s a shame that in our culture, we’ve made our younger adult years—from 18-29—out to somehow be easy. We’ve been hearing the messages all along since high school…how fun college will be, how exciting it’ll be to choose a career, and how great it’ll be to move away from home, find a great job, and be financially independent.

But not one told us…It’s actually a very hard and confusing time. 

If only we could have been warned, then perhaps we wouldn’t struggle with the thought, 

Am I the only one who feels this way? 

Well, you’re not, but we understand it feels that way. Our culture isn’t great in encouraging us to show others how much we’re struggling. In fact, we feel enormous pressure to show the world how put-together we are. Well, don’t listen to that; It’s a really bad message. 

The reality is this: Early adulthood is hard. Very hard. 

Here are some of the pressures you may be experiencing: 

• • Chose a college major/career path, among way too many options. It’s frankly dizzying, scary, and confusing
  • Find a “great job” 
  • Make money
  • Seem to “have it together,” at ease with your life, career, and social life

In reality, here’s what you may be feeling: 

• • Overwhelmed
  • Confused
  • Scared
  • Worried
  • Anxious
  • Sad, depressed 
  • Afraid you’re a disappointment
  • Frustrated and annoyed
  • Lonely

We won’t do the usual deal here of telling you what an exciting time in your life this is, how the world is one great big opportunity, because we know how common it is for young adults to be questioning so many things. There’s so much self doubt. 

Here are some of the things we often hear from your peers, even if they don’t say it to you (and we wish they would!):

• • Why does everyone else have it together, and I don’t?
  • I have no idea what I’m doing.
  • Why is this so hard? I thought it was supposed to be easier, more fun. 
  • Am I the only one who is so anxious? 
  • All my friends are already (fill in the blank).
  • I’m behind. 

The facts are these: Adulting is harder than anyone tells you. And it takes longer than ever before to pull off the tasks of adulting, which include taking on new, huge responsibilities, moving away from home, figuring out a career path, beginning to work, and becoming financially independent. In fact, it’s been shown that most people don’t “fully adult” until their late twenties…so you’ve got some time. 

People used to graduate from high school, get a job, and go about their lives, without all the confusing choices and pressures you are experiencing today. Add to that the sickness in our culture—the political discord, the violence, the inequity, and climate change—and you have a recipe for way more stress than your parents ever experienced. 

The good news is that you don’t have to suffer alone. Counseling can help you if you’re struggling with: 

• • Anxiety, including worrying a lot, social anxiety, OCD, or panic attacks
  • Depression, feeling sad or unmotivated
  • Relationship troubles
  • Feeling alone or behind
  • Career confusion, lack of direction
  • Identity issues
  • Feeling you don’t measure up or are a disappointment
  • Unhappy with your job or relationships
  • Feeling insecure in your relationships