There are so many things going on at once and it seems like nobody sees them but me. School is harder to finish than I had anticipated. I feel like I want to do better, I really do, but I just can’t seem to. I’ll tell myself that I need to do something that I have to, but nothing gets done. Before this year I had everything figured out after graduation. I was going to go to college in the fall to get an Associate’s Degree, but now I don’t know what’s going to happen. I took so long to take the SAT that even if I took it now, the college wouldn’t get it in time. My living arrangement is soon to be uprooted without regard to what I would like. Things have gotten so confusing that I can’t sleep, and I barely eat. There are times where I can sit down for a minute and hours will go by without me even knowing it; I feel lost. I know what I don’t want to do, but I have no clue what I do want to do. Sometimes I think there is something really wrong with me, and right now I have no one to tell me otherwise. Everybody in my family seems so wrapped up in their lives, that I feel I don’t exist.
CONSIDER THIS:
- You took the right step by seeking help. You are not alone. Changes in life, including graduating from high school, can be challenging. They can leave you feeling different emotions, such as confused or lost.
- Consider talking to your family about your concerns and about your feelings. They may not know what you are experiencing unless you tell them directly.
- You might want to try talking to other adults or friends. Talking to other people will help release bottled-up emotions and help you cope with them.
- Another option may be talking to career counselors in school. They may be able to help you decide what you would like to do after graduation and help you make plans in preparation.
- Some teens really enjoy writing in a journal when they feel overwhelmed with life’s pressures. Writing down your thoughts can help organize them and might give you insight on what you want in life.
HELP YOURSELF:
- What would happen if you told your family about how you are feeling?
- Who else could you confide in about your situation?
- What would happen if you started writing your thoughts in a journal?
- What activities/hobbies could you take part in to help cope with negative emotions?
