THE STRUGGLE IS REAL
Perfectionism is a funny thing. We naturally crave it—more, better, faster—even though it’s unattainable and bad for our mental, physical, and emotional health.
THE PRESSURE TO BE PERFECT
Many of us have a really, really hard time coping with the intense pressure to excel at school, get the highest grades, do everything required to be accepted to the best colleges, and live up to everyone’s expectations. Not to mention the additional stress of social media: how perfect everyone looks and how effortless their lives seem.
Oh yeah, we’re also expected to look beyond ourselves to change the world, fix climate change, find cures for future pandemics, and fight for safer schools and racial justice. It’s a lot. Especially for high school students.
WHAT CAN WE DO?
Join our movement. We started Strength in Numbers to address perfectionism head-on by creating a safe space to talk about the impossible expectations our community puts on us and find healthy ways to cope and thrive on our own terms.
PEER VIDEOS
Watch students discuss the pressures they face and what they’re doing about it.
Please remember: You are not alone.
ARE YOU UNDER TOO MUCH PRESSURE?
Chronic anxiety can interfere with the ability to focus and learn causing school problems that can have lifelong impact, and can lead to serious mental health problems, depression, substance use, and even suicide. It can also lead to physical problems, such as headaches, chronic pain, digestive problems, and later heart disease.
Sometimes just knowing that the pressure to be perfect and excel in everything is unrealistic is all we need to begin learning healthier ways to manage stress. Want to know if you are taking on too much?
THE PRESSURE IS EVERYWHERE
Academic
- Get a 4.0 or higher
- Excel in AP classes
- Participate in extracurricular activities
- Join school clubs
- Perform volunteer work
Athletic
- Show up at practice
- Work out and stay fit
- Never miss a game
- Meet with trainers
- Impress college scouts
- Maintain good grades
Social
- Have a lot of friends
- Keep up with social media
- Appear popular
- Get the most likes
- Have perfect body, hair, skin
- Maintain physical appearance
Home
- Be a good son/daughter
- Spend time with family
- Have a part-time job
- Be home by curfew
- Keep your room clean
- Help around the house
WE CAN HANDLE IT, RIGHT?
The truth is sometimes we can’t. We honestly don’t know how to manage and process this type of stress in a healthy way at our age. Some of the things we turn to in order to handle our stress only make things worse and can have serious long-term consequences.
- Self-medicating with drugs and alcohol
- Use of prescription or illegal stimulants
- Isolation
- Eating disorders
- Self-harm or cutting
- Risk-taking and dangerous behavior
- Addictions to any of the above
Any of these sound familiar? If so, you aren’t alone and it’s OK to ask for help from friends, parents, counselors, school staff and other trusted adults. We have a whole page of resources to help you. If you aren’t sure where to start, we can point you in the right direction.