Let me start by saying that I never expected to be a "millennial therapist" when I entered the field of psychotherapy 10 years ago. But five years into practicing, I began to notice an influx of millennials seeking my help. Now, 90% of my patients are between the ages of 23 and 38. (The rest are mostly parents of millennials.) As a Gen X'er, I've heard all the millennial stereotypes — they're lazy, entitled, self-centered, oversensitive and unprepared. But after studying and getting to know them, what I found was a rising generation of smart and highly ambitious individuals. They're empathetic, diverse and eager to make a social impact. But there are also many anxieties that hold them back.

The biggest millennial complaint

On any given day, a handful of millennials will come into my office and express their most pressing concerns: "I'm worried I'll never make enough money to retire." "I feel like a failure." "I don't know if I'm setting up my adult life the right way." But the complaint they bring up the most? "I have too many choices and I can't decide what to do. What if I make the wrong choice?" Yes, decision fatigue is a real thing, especially in today's world, where we are overloaded with information and have an immense pressure to succeed. There are so many big life decisions to make — who to marry, what career path to take, where to live, how to manage our money — and so many options. While having an abundance of choices might sound appealing, studies have found that it often causes us to feel stressed and overwhelmed. In modern "emerging adulthood" — a term that psychology professor Jeffrey Jensen Arnett defines as "the period between the ages of 18 and 25 when many directions remain possible and very little about the future has been decided" — delayed choices ultimately leads to confusion about one's identity and purpose in life.

How to deal with 'too many choices'

In his book, "The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less," psychologist Barry Schwartz argues that the more choices we have, the more likely we are to anticipate regretting our decisions later on. Schwartz says that one of three things is likely to occur when young adults are faced with too many choices: They make poor choices They become more dissatisfied with their choices They become paralyzed and don't make a choice at all Here's the advice I give to millennials who struggle with decision fatigue: 1. Address how you truly feel. Self-awareness is everything. When we force ourselves to think about our feelings, words, emotions and behaviors, we start to understand what's really bothering us and what we really want. How do you feel about your current situation? What changes would you like to make? What's important to you right now? What are your current goals? What are your future goals? Asking yourself these questions will guide you in making a decision you feel good about and are less likely to regret. 2. Identify your options. At this point, it's time to get serious and start brainstorming the choices you have and what outcomes they might lead to. For example, switching jobs could affect your salary, living situation, work responsibilities or commute. Define the key factors of each decision and how they might affect your current situation. Maybe you need to take care of a sick family member and can't afford to take on a demanding job.