My presence within the school seems pointless. No one notices or even cares whether I am here one day or gone the next. Sometimes I feel as though what I am doing with my time anywhere is being wasted and the air I breathe is limited. When I need someone to talk to, they are either gone or my anxiety begins to play its symphony of frustration or fear and I am mute. I have a lot to say but the words can’t put themselves into sentences that make sense. My surroundings are a repeat of yesterday and the day before and it will be the same tomorrow. I have lack of motivation, sleepless nights, fear shadows me, stress over nothing, and a blank future. I do what the cliché thing is, and it is to push forward and smile. Doesn’t work. Even I can’t trick myself anymore into happiness or relaxation. People around me wave over me; even though, I have been going to school with them since the first or second grade. I never did anything wrong to anyone, so why am I being punished? At school is just the base of the hell. Home, I feel like I could do more than lie around. Yet, no physical action takes place. My own clothes make me feel uncomfortable. The clothes on my back whisper about the cost of it, how long I’ve had it, and where it originated. My hair stays a mess and I don’t do anything to fix it. What is the point in trying anymore when I have nothing to lose anymore.
CONSIDER THIS:
- Living a meaningless life can make you feel frustrated and alone. You are brave for admitting to yourself that you need more in life to feel genuinely happy.
- If you need someone to talk to, you can head to the Teen Central website and click the Help tab to call a hotline. Click the Learn tab to read about Depression, Anxiety, Bullying or other topics that might affect you. You may also speak to a trusted therapist, school counselor or religious leader.
- When life no longer seems to matter, you can find ways to make it more meaningful. Volunteering to help those less fortunate can make your life more meaningful, positive and even improve your health. You can volunteer at a local soup kitchen, hospital, library or from home among other places. Donate gently used items, send cards to military overseas, help out at an animal shelter, train to be a counselor or join an organization to plant trees. You may also foster or adopt a pet from a pet shelter to have a new best friend around. You can find opportunities to volunteer online or locally by visiting websites like Volunteermatch.
- You can be positive by repeating positive affirmations to yourself when necessary. You may also read inspirational quotes. Write down a few things you’re grateful for in a daily journal. Keep yourself from spiralling out of control by always having something to hope for. This may be a favorite book you’re reading or sport you’ve joined. Find something positive to laugh at like comics, a comedy movie or cute animal photographs. The Teen Central website has downloadable resources under the Tools tab to help you be more positive or do yoga poses among others.
- You can express yourself in a healthy way, use your imagination more to escape reality and relieve boredom by doing creative activities such as creative writing, coloring in a coloring book, drawing, painting, listening to music or playing a musical instrument among others.
- Being more spiritual can help a person find meaning and a sense of purpose where none seems to exist. Spiritual techniques like prayer, yoga or meditation can also help you sleep better, calm anxiety and live in the moment in a healthy way. Besides this, you may attend church services.
- If you days feel repetitive, you can try something new.
- You can practice self-care by taking care of your body, mind and spirit on a regular basis. This includes eating healthy and exercising among other things.
HELP YOURSELF:
- In what ways can having a positive mindset improve your life now and in the future?
- How can setting goals and committing to achieving them help you have a real life?
- How can focusing on volunteering help you take your mind off your own problems?
- If you make a list of the many reasons why your life is important, what would it look like?
- In what ways can using your time wisely, rather than dwelling on negativity, turn your life around?
