When Something Feels Off: What to Expect From College Counseling

Maybe you’re sleeping, but you’re still exhausted.

You’re going to class, but concentrating seems harder than it used to be.

You’re spending time with friends, but you don’t quite feel like yourself.

Maybe something happened—a relationship changed, you’re struggling academically or home feels farther away than you expected.

Or maybe nothing obvious happened at all.

You just know something feels off.

Now what?

One of the challenges of taking care of yourself in college is recognizing that you don’t always have to understand what’s happening before you talk with someone about it.

Sometimes noticing the change is enough to begin.

You Don't Have to Know What's Wrong

When something doesn’t feel right, it’s tempting to search for an explanation.

Am I just stressed?

Is this normal?

Why can’t I get over this?

Is this serious enough to talk to someone about?

Kim Retherford, director of Counseling Services at Gardner-Webb University, offers students a simpler place to begin:

"I would say trust your gut. If you just don't feel right, find someone that you trust to talk to."

That doesn’t mean every difficult day requires a visit to the Counseling Center. College has frustrating, stressful and disappointing days just like every other part of life.

It means you can pay attention when something feels different—and you don’t have to determine exactly what it means on your own.

Retherford makes that especially clear:

"So you don't have to diagnose yourself."

That’s not your job.

Your job can simply be noticing: Something has changed.

Start With Someone You Trust

Retherford encourages students to identify people they trust. That might include a friend, roommate, family member, professor or another supportive person.

Sometimes saying something out loud is the first step toward understanding it.

I’ve been overwhelmed lately.

I’m having trouble concentrating.

I don’t know why, but I haven’t felt like myself.

Can I talk to you?

You don’t need a polished explanation.

You don’t even need to know what you want the other person to say.

Starting the conversation can simply mean allowing someone else into what you’ve been carrying alone.

Feeling "Off" Doesn't Automatically Mean You Know the Cause

There’s another reason not to diagnose yourself: how you feel can have different causes.

Retherford points out that physical conditions can sometimes contribute to changes in mood, energy or how someone feels overall. That’s why support might sometimes include seeing a healthcare provider rather than assuming every symptom has a mental-health explanation.

The reverse matters, too.

A student may keep pushing through stress, emotional difficulties or other concerns because they assume they’re simply tired or need to work harder.

The goal isn’t to find the right label on your own.

It’s to find the right support.

That may be a trusted person. It may be a medical provider. It may be an academic resource. And sometimes, it may be counseling.

What Actually Happens When You Go to College Counseling?

For students who have never experienced counseling, the unknown can be intimidating.

What am I supposed to say?

What are they going to ask me?

What if I don’t know why I’m there?

You don’t need to arrive with a diagnosis, a perfectly articulated problem or a plan for fixing it.

Retherford says the conversation at Gardner-Webb begins with the student.

"We will always ask students, what do you want to get out of counseling? Like, why are you here? What do you want to get out of it?"

That doesn’t mean you have to arrive knowing the answer.

It gives you and the counselor somewhere to begin.

Maybe you want help managing stress. Perhaps you’re struggling with a relationship or transition. Maybe you want to understand why you’ve been feeling different.

Or perhaps your most accurate answer is:

“I’m not sure. I just know something hasn’t felt right.”

That’s still a beginning.

What If Counseling Isn't What I Need?

Here’s something students may not expect: going to the Counseling Center doesn’t mean counseling will automatically be the answer to every concern.

Part of the process can involve helping students identify what kind of support actually fits their situation.

Retherford explains that counselors sometimes help students realize another resource may better address what they’re experiencing and help connect them to that support.

That’s important.

The goal isn’t to make every student a counseling client.

The goal is helping students determine what they need.

Sometimes that may involve another campus resource, medical support or a different kind of assistance.

You don’t have to know which door is the correct one before you knock.

You Don't Have to Wait for a Crisis

One of the easiest assumptions to make about counseling is that it’s reserved for moments when everything has fallen apart.

But support doesn’t have to begin with a crisis.

College brings transitions, pressures and experiences that students may simply want help navigating.

You might be overwhelmed.

You might be homesick.

A relationship may be difficult.

You may be struggling with expectations—from other people or yourself.

You might have experienced a loss or major life change.

Or you may simply recognize that the things you normally do to reset aren’t working the way they usually do.

You don’t have to compare your concern with someone else’s before deciding whether it’s worth talking about.

Something doesn’t have to become unbearable before it becomes worth addressing.

What If I'm Nervous About Going?

Being nervous about talking with a counselor—especially for the first time—makes sense.

Talking about personal things with someone you don’t know can feel unfamiliar.

You may wonder whether your concern is “big enough.” You might worry about what you’re going to say. Maybe you’re afraid you’ll sit down and suddenly forget every reason you made the appointment.

You don’t need a speech.

You don’t need the perfect opening sentence.

You can start with the truth:

“I’ve never done this before, and I’m a little nervous.”

Or:

“I don’t really know how to explain it. I just haven’t felt like myself lately.”

The conversation can begin there.

You Don't Have to Figure It Out Alone

Throughout college, you’ll learn to pay attention to a lot of things.

Deadlines.

Grades.

Schedules.

Relationships.

Responsibilities.

Learning to pay attention to yourself matters, too.

Sometimes what you need will be rest.

Sometimes you’ll need to say no.

Sometimes you’ll need to establish a boundary or find people and places where you feel connected.

And sometimes you’ll realize that something still doesn’t feel right.

That’s when one of Retherford’s simplest observations becomes especially important:

"Mental health is still part of health."

Taking your mental health seriously doesn’t mean you have all the answers.

Sometimes it means being willing to ask a question.

Sometimes it means starting a conversation.

Sometimes it means making an appointment.

You don’t have to know the answer before you ask.

Need Support? Connect With the GWU Counseling Center

The GWU Counseling Center is in the Tucker Student Center.

Hours:
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

To schedule an appointment please call or email us at:
Phone: (704) 406-2729
Email: [email protected]

Additional Support Links:

The Counseling Center

Campus Life