[davos]

I am a 21-year-old male. I have done a year and a half of university. Then I dropped out for two years. Now I have returned (for this summer at least).

I find it difficult to do well in school even when studying things that I am interested in. I feel held back by my anxiety to get a degree, as well as my anxiety that what I am doing is the wrong thing for me, and that I will not find work.

Please advise.

[Perna]

Anxiety is about the future. You cannot know the future. Therefore, all of your thoughts about the future are in your head/imagination. So, imagine good thoughts about the future, if you must think any at all?

You are afraid you will not get your degree; how old are you? I got a degree, in the subject I went to university to get when I was 18, at the age of 57. You have your whole life to get your degree if that is what you want. If you don't want it, then you will do something else. Your life is about what you want to do.

How can what you are doing be wrong for you? You are doing it. Only you can know what is right for you and what you want to do. Maybe you will find work and maybe you will not find work; you cannot know until you are interested in finding work and pursue that goal. Right now you are studying?

[Travelinglady]

Hello and welcome to Psych Central! Easier said than done, of course--but try to take things one day at a time. As you can see, thinking too much about the future can make us anxious and prevent us from staying in the present and getting what needs to be done then. I know how that is from personal experience!

You might see about making an appointment with a counselor at your school, who could listen and maybe help allay some of your concerns.

[davos]

Thank you all for your replies.

Yes, I think an appointment with a school councillor would be a good idea. I feel a lot better since I first posted on here, and I feel like I can attack my problems in a better way.

However, overall I still feel like I'm not doing school right. =P. Ah well.

You are right about the future, but I still feel like I should try to make some plans for it. I'm not sure if my attempts to plan ahead hold me back or keep me grounded.