Why am I never happy? I remember when I was younger I was always happy, smiling, and laughing. But now it’s like all that stuff is forced and doesn’t seem real. There’s just nothing to be happy about, so why bother trying to be? These last couple of months have sucked and I’ve lost 2/3 dogs and wasn’t able to play basketball because I had surgery on my foot. I know there’s something wrong with me because I have messed up thoughts, but I don’t want to say anything. Sometimes I think about being in car accidents, getting shot or stabbed, but I never die from any of this stuff. It’s almost like I want to experience it. I don’t know what’s wrong or what to do.
HELP YOURSELF
- • Reaching out for help when you need it is sometimes the hardest thing to do. Thank you for trusting Teen Central to help you through this difficult time.
• It sounds like you currently have several things going on in your life that may be preventing you from finding enjoyment in the things you once did. I would encourage you to please use the LEARN tab on the Teen Central website as it has topics that may help you during this time.
• Have you tried talking about your feelings with a parent/ guardian? Sometimes it helps to have that conversation as parents don’t always know how deeply their child is hurting. Maybe try talking to them about seeing a doctor, or a therapist who may also be able to help. - If you are ever feeling unsafe, or out of control of these difficult thoughts, please contact 911 or access the Help page of TeenCentral for a list of support hotlines. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255) offers 24/7 free and anonymous support to people who are in an emotional crisis. You can also text HOME to 741741 (the crisis text line). These resources are available to you at all times!
CONSIDER THIS
• Try keeping a journal to keep track of your thoughts/ moods. There is a mood tracker resource under the TOOLS tab on Teen Central that may help you keep track of when you’re feeling unhappy, and what’s going on at that time for you. Do you feel unhappy all the time? Is it at certain times of the day? Does it happen around certain things or activities?
• Not being able to do something you love like playing basketball must be frustrating. What are you able to do right now that brings you joy? Make a list of these things and focus on those. Try something you haven’t done in awhile that you enjoy, or maybe even try something new.
• Stay in touch with friends and loved ones. Who could you reach out to right now? Make a list of people that you feel you can trust with these difficult thoughts. Keeping open communication with people who care about you may help you to avoid isolating yourself.
