I’m 17 and I struggle with autism, overweight, anxiety, seizures, depression and more. Recently, I’ve been feeling like no one cares. Today, 3 kids slept in my class and we all got yelled at and I didn’t do anything. I also dealt with my grandpa loss a few years ago and I still can’t get over it. The main problem is that I don’t feel loved. I feel like no one cares about me. I get bullied everyday and I feel like disappearing. I feel like I don’t belong here and half the time I ask “Why did God create me”. I need help and advice please
HELP YOURSELF:
- Thank you for reaching out to the Teen Central community. It takes a lot of courage to ask for help. Be proud of yourself for taking a step to help yourself!
- You mentioned you feel like disappearing and like you don’t belong. It must feel so lonely to go through being bullied and think that no one cares. We’re glad to remind you that YOU ARE NOT ALONE! If you ever need someone to talk to, and things just feel too overwhelming and sad, you can CALL 1-800-273-8255 anytime or text HELLO to 741741. If you don’t have a phone you can reach people by computer using either of these links: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ or http://www.crisistextline.org/.
- Do you have a trusted friend or family member that you can talk to about your feelings? Getting your feelings out by talking to someone may lift the burden of keeping your thoughts bottled up. Just having someone listen to us can be such a relief and it’s good to have a support system. It’s ok even if it’s only one or two people.
- We have a lot of information you can read about related to the issues you’re dealing with to help you feel empowered. On the Teen Central website, click the Learn tab then Anxiety, Bullying and Depression. We’re real sorry to hear about your grandpa dying. There is no timeline for getting over losing someone you love. It may be helpful to read about Grief and Loss (in Learn).
CONSIDER THIS:
- Positivity can change your life, but it takes practice, especially when you have a lot of stress. The Teen Central website has many downloadable resources under the Tools tab such as Positivity Reminder and Positive Talk plus much more. Try writing down 3 things that you like about yourself and repeating them on a regular basis – like when you first get up in the morning. You can also read inspiring quotes or write down what you’re grateful for each day in a journal. Don’t be afraid to be yourself! Being yourself will help you find real friends who genuinely care about you. Let bullies make you stronger, not weaker.
- Being creative can help you express your feelings in a healthy way. Activities to consider are painting, drawing, creative writing or listening to music. You can find more information under the What’s New tab on the Teen Central site. Check out “Using Art as a Coping Skill”. Have you tried journaling daily? There are many benefits, including releasing some of these stressful thoughts, further processing your ideas, and being able to reflect on changes in your ideas and thought processes over time. Check out “Using Journaling to Cope with Stress” in What’s New.
- Perhaps you can get involved in something at school or in your community that would connect you with people who have the same interests you have and help you feel like you belong. We know it’s difficult during these times, but think about helping at homeless shelters, animal shelters, or checking out a school club. Helping others often helps us feel good about ourselves and gives a sense of purpose.
- Try to include some form of exercise in your daily routine. A brisk walk for 20 minutes can help alleviate some of the symptoms of depression and anxiety. Deep breathing for even just a minute can help clear stress hormones from your bloodstream and help you feel calmer. There’s a Daily Schedule in the Tools section that may be helpful. Even spending 10 minutes a day doing something active can help improve your mood.
