How can I minimize stress about the future?

Hi Petra, thank you so much for reaching out here at BetterHelp.  I'm glad you are interested in learning a bit more about how to better manage all the different aspects of your life. Going to college, and then graduation - it can be a lot of transitions and what ifs!  Supportive counseling is a good place to talk through your thoughts and worries, and then with some motivational questioning and exploration with your therapist, a great place to put some strategies in place to slow down your thoughts and become a bit better at staying focused on the present, in the "here and now".

In session I would want to spend time talking to you not just about your future plans, but why it is so important to you what the people in your life think about your plans.  Perhaps you need to become a bit more confident in your ability to make good decisions for yourself, or better at expressing what is important to you and how you have made your decisions.

The issue of who your friends will be - I'm guessing you mean the friends you have made in college, and when you graduate you will be leaving campus.  Of course, there is a chance your friend group may change a bit when you are not seeing each other regularly.  But, if you choose, you can make efforts to keep in touch and see each other for special events.  Some people stay close to college friends throughout life!  If that is not in the cards, think about your future as full of possibility, that the changes coming, even if a bit scary, can be wonderful and exciting!  Meeting new people in this new, more adult phase of your life, can be very fulfilling.

Regarding the issue of your relationship, in session I would spend some time learning about how you feel in this relationship, and what do YOU see for your future in regards to it.  It might be challenging, but I would support you to look inwards a bit, see how you really feel about this person and do you see a future together?  The answer to those questions may have an impact on your decisions.

Also, I would work with you to improve your overall self care.  Of course this is a busy time for you, graduating college, but also a very important time to focus on you.  Making sure you are getting enough sleep, eating enough, hopefully some down time where you either exercise or do some type of relaxation such as yoga or meditation.  All of this can help you to slow it down, live in the moment and let go of some stress and anxiety.  

I wish you all the best for wanting to improve yourself.  Good for you taking this big step to get some counseling now!!  Take good care,  Caryn Kelley