Managing College Anxiety and Identity Change with Eric Bergemann, PhD

Navigating college is more than choosing classes and meeting deadlines—it’s a profound period of identity exploration, uncertainty, and emotional change. Many students arrive on campus juggling academic pressure, social adaptation, shifting family expectations, and an evolving sense of self. Anxiety often surfaces during these transitions, but it can also become a catalyst for self-discovery and growth when understood with compassion. Drawing on the work of Eric Bergemann, PhD, this guide explores how students can make sense of internal changes while responding to the stressors of early adulthood. It examines why anxiety rises during major life transitions, how identity formation naturally accelerates in college, and what practical steps students can take to support their emotional well-being. Strategies include grounding techniques, reframing self-judgment, building support networks, and recognizing the difference between pressure that motivates and pressure that overwhelms. This description encourages students to view identity development not as a problem to solve but as an ongoing process shaped by experience and reflection. By normalizing discomfort and providing evidence-informed tools, it aims to empower students to meet challenges with resilience, clarity, and a sense of agency as they shape who they are becoming. Learn more: https://www.behance.net/ericbergema

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