Studying wears your mind out too. And you don’t have to carry it alone
Exams, moving to a new city or country, loneliness, doubts about the future… Student life is intense. I explain what academic stress is, when to ask for help and how students in France can get free sessions with Santé Psy Étudiant.
Academic stress
Psychology calls academic stress the stress that comes from the study load, which adds to everyday stress and gradually drains your reserves. It often increases over the years of study and can affect health, motivation and results.
What weighs most
Exams and assessments
Anxiety before and during exams, freezing up, the feeling of never having revised enough.
Changes and loneliness
A new city or a new country, far from family and friends, with a network to rebuild.
Doubts about the future
Did I make the right choice? What will I do afterwards? The pressure to have a clear direction.
A little stress helps you perform. A lot of stress, for a long time, has the opposite effect.
Santé Psy Étudiant: free sessions in France
The French public scheme Santé Psy Étudiant allows students in higher education in France to have up to 12 free sessions with a psychologist, in person or by video call, without a referral letter from a doctor.
All you need is your health insurance certificate or your Carte Vitale. I am part of the scheme’s network of psychologists: you can book directly with me, online or at my practice in La Rochelle. All the official information is on santepsy.etudiant.gouv.fr.
When to ask for help
Some common situations for which students come to see me:
You feel lonely or isolated
You find it hard to make connections or you miss the people close to you a lot.
Anxiety or freezing up
Stress that stops you from performing, panic attacks, avoiding classes or exams.
Low mood
Sadness, lack of motivation or lack of energy that last.
Sleep and tiredness
You sleep badly or you are exhausted by the pace of your studies.
A breakup or a family problem
Something personal that spills over into everything else.
You don’t need to have a serious problem: any distress that affects you is reason enough to talk about it.
Why do exams cause so much anxiety?
Evaluation, uncertainty and avoidance
The most stressful situations are new, uncertain, ambiguous, imminent and intense, and an exam combines almost all of these. On top of that, anxiety feeds on a well-known cycle:
The exam is approaching
Anticipation kicks in: “I won’t have time”, “I’m going to fail”.
Anxiety rises
Tension, difficulty concentrating, sleep problems.
You avoid it or put it off
Distractions, procrastination, revising without a method to calm the stress.
Relief… and more pressure
As the date gets closer, time runs short and anxiety increases.
Breaking this cycle means changing what you do (organising revision in small steps, gradually facing what you avoid), what you think (questioning catastrophic predictions), and lowering the body’s activation.
What helps, according to research
For anxiety and stress, there are validated approaches:
Cognitive behavioural therapy
It is the best-validated treatment for generalised anxiety and social anxiety, both very common among students.
Physiological, behavioural and cognitive techniques
Relaxation and breathing, time management and problem solving, and reviewing the thoughts that increase the pressure.
Acceptance and commitment therapy
Useful for mixed anxiety conditions: it helps you study and live according to what matters to you, even with stress.
Habits matter too: sleep, sport, breaks and relationships are part of any stress management plan.
How we work
First session
You tell me what is going on and we see together what you need, within the Santé Psy Étudiant scheme if you study in France.
Understanding what you are going through
What triggers your distress and what keeps it going, sometimes with short questionnaires.
Concrete tools
Managing anxiety, organising revision, sleep, relationships: whatever you need.
Follow-up
We review regularly and adjust until you feel better.
I work in English, French and Spanish: ideal if you are an international or Erasmus student.
What you can start today
Revise in blocks
25 to 50 minutes of work and a short break. Easier to start, easier to keep going.
Protect your sleep
Sleep consolidates what you learn. All-nighters before an exam take away more than they give.
Get moving
Moderate activity, several times a week, helps to lower anxiety.
Talk about it
To a friend, your family or a professional. Sharing what worries you already brings relief.
Gonzalo Garzo
Clinical psychologist · Santé Psy Étudiant partner
I have been a clinical psychologist since 2018, and I am also an anthropologist. For years I combined psychology with management positions (see my LinkedIn profile), before dedicating myself fully to clinical work.
I work with an integrative approach: third-wave CBT (ACT, DBT, mindfulness) and EMDR, adapted to each person’s needs.
I have lived in several countries and I work in English, French or Spanish, online or in La Rochelle.
Frequently asked questions
Who can benefit from Santé Psy Étudiant?
Students in higher education in France. All you need is your health insurance certificate or your Carte Vitale.
Are the sessions really free?
Yes, up to 12 sessions, with nothing to pay upfront and without seeing a doctor first.
Can I do them online?
Yes, by video call, or in person in La Rochelle.
I am an international student: can I benefit?
If you are enrolled in a higher education institution in France, yes. I can also see you in English or Spanish.
Shall we talk?
Sources
- Campus France (2025). Structures et dispositifs de santé mentale pour les étudiants.
- Quirós, W. P., Marín, M. A. and Fallas, L. F. (2014). Gestión de estrategias para la prevención del estrés en el ámbito educativo. Gestión de la Educación, 131-149.
- Barona, E. G. (1996). Salud, estrés y factores psicológicos. Campo Abierto, 13(1), 51-69.
- Society of Clinical Psychology, APA Division 12 (2016). Treatment Targets: Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, Mixed Anxiety Conditions.
- UNESCO (2024). Supporting the mental health and well-being of higher education students.
This page is for information only and does not replace a professional assessment.