I hate lockdown because I’m only 1 year away from my exams. I can’t learn anything. I feel so stupid because I usually get straight As. All my friends are just messing around are not taking them seriously. I don’t want my parents to worry but I feel overwhelmed. Some days I just stare at the screen and cry. I can’t get any work done and feel my grades slipping.
WAYS YOU CAN HELP YOURSELF:
- Thank you for reaching out to us at TeenCentral! It takes a lot of courage to talk about things you are struggling with so you took an important first step… great job! The pandemic has been a challenging time and a huge change in routine for many people. Feeling overwhelmed is natural considering what you’re going through. You are not alone and we are here to support you.
- Sometimes reading about the experiences of others can help us get through our own tough times. We encourage you to check out the stories of others here on this website and the feedback they’ve received. You can even search for topics such as “COVID” or “School” to help narrow things down.
- If your frustration ever gets so bad that you can’t stand it anymore there are plenty of hotlines and warmlines on the HELP tab of this website. I would especially recommend the Crisis Textline. Just text “HELLO” to 741741 and start a conversation. When you are really in need of an immediate response that is a good option.
- Aside from talking to us in the TeenCentral community or accessing a hotline, is there any trusted adult or family member you’ve tried talking to? Since this is related more towards online schooling, is there a teacher or guidance counselor who you could speak to about your concerns? Sometimes talking to someone face to face can be really helpful.
CONSIDER THIS:
- Feeling overwhelmed can be very difficult and even make us feel stuck. Oftentimes, finding outlets and ways to organize your thoughts and emotions is helpful in coping with these moments. Have you tried any writing or journaling? You can free write about things you are experiencing or respond to structured prompts such as: What happened to trigger my overwhelming feelings? We even have a Support Plan under the TOOLS tab that you can use.
- The daily stressors of online schooling can be difficult not only mentally but physically as well. It’s important to take good care of yourself during these times. What are the things you can do that help you feel calm and relaxed? Even little things like listening to music, lighting candles, and watching a favorite movie can all have a big impact on your mood. For those moments during online classes where you are struggling, do you have any smaller items that won’t cause a distraction that you can maybe keep with you like a fidget item or stress ball? TeenCentral loves the ARRGH Stress Ball which can be found HERE if you are interested.
- Another important part of getting through tough times is surrounding yourself with and keeping connections with other positive people. Are there any friends or other students who share your concerns and desire to get good grades that you could use as support, maybe help with studying if possible? Some of these people may also share some of your feelings about the difficulties of online schooling. We feel for you, kid! This has been a rough year+ and we are all looking forward to things getting back to normal!
