My sister was recently admitted and I miss her. Last night we had some issues and I watched my nightmare come true. I can’t get it out of my head. I have PTSD already but sometimes medicine isn’t what helps. The kids at school never leave me alone. I always tell but nobody listens. I just want a fix. Everyone thinks I’m something I’m not. My heart hurts.
CONSIDER THIS:
- Enduring life’s struggles, especially as a teenager, can make you feel alone and traumatized. You are strong for surviving everything so far even though it’s very difficult.
- Sometimes life can be too much for anybody. No one deserves to be tortured by PTSD on top of everything else. If you need someone to talk to, you can head to the Teen Central website and click the Help tab then call one of the hotlines. You may also speak to a trusted therapist, school counselor or religious leader.
- You can empower yourself by becoming educated about your issues. On the Teen Central website, click the Learn tab then Anxiety, Bullying, Depression or others.
- Positivity can change your life and make it easier for you to live. The Teen Central website has many downloadable resources under the Tools tab such as Positivity Reminder and Positive Talk among others. You may try repeating positive affirmations to yourself on a regular basis. You can also read inspiring quotes or write down what you’re grateful for each day in a journal. Try writing down your feelings to let them out in a healthy way. Always have something to look forward to each day, like watching a favorite movie or reading a book you love, so you don’t lose hope and spiral out of control.
- Be brave enough to be yourself each day. What people think of your unique personality doesn’t matter. Being yourself will help you find real friends who genuinely care about you. Let bullies make you stronger, not weaker.
- Practicing self care can remind you how important your life is. Always respect your body, mind and spirit by taking care of yourself every day. You can commit to self care by setting goals and writing them down in a journal each day. Self care practices include things like getting enough sleep, being spiritual, taking care of your health and emotions, and exercising your brain.
- Volunteering is a positive way to fight back against negativity. You can try volunteering for organizations that are against bullying, tutor or read to children or help out at your local pet shelter. Choose an opportunity that fits you. You even have the option of fostering or adopting a pet so you can give and get the unconditional love you deserve.
- Sometimes you can’t do anything about the people around you. Spirituality can give you something to believe in, the strength to survive tough times and teach you that people have lessons to learn and this is why they can be cruel for no good reason. You can try being more spiritual and calming anxiety by using prayer, meditation or yoga. For example, praying for your sister might help you accept the things you can’t change. You may also attend church services if you’d like. You might gain meaning and a sense of purpose which can make life worth living. Spirituality shouldn’t be underestimated since it often encourages people to change their lives for the better.
- Being creative can help you express your feelings in a healthy way. Activities to consider are painting, drawing, creative writing, listening to music or playing a musical instrument among others.
- Sometimes changing to a healthier lifestyle can make medication work better or possibly even replace it in some circumstances. Before you stop taking your medication, the safest thing to do is talk to your doctor about the side effects of this. Besides this, knowledge is power. You can get informed about your options by doing your research. Instead of taking medication, some people change to a healthier diet, exercise regularly, seek therapy and use spiritual techniques each day to significantly ease their symptoms.
- You can try ignoring bullies by focusing on living your own life in a positive way. Focus on getting good grades, having hobbies you enjoy and working towards a better future. Your life is worth the effort because everyone deserves to be happier. Some people do genuinely care about others. You just need to be patient and find them.
HELP YOURSELF:
- How can changing your focus to more positive thinking help you feel safer and make life easier on you?
- In what ways can caring more about yourself give you more self confidence?
- In what ways can being yourself help you respect yourself more?
- How can finding a positive outlet for your problems help you release negative feelings?
- How can you commit to avoiding negative people and having healthier relationships? Can you write down a few positive characteristics of a healthy relationship and commit to having this in your life?
