I’m almost always extremely busy, and usually, I can handle it. But recently, I’ve been feeling pretty terrible. Sometimes, I feel so sad and tired that I don’t even want to go to school. But at the same time, I hate weekends, as they make me feel like I am not working hard enough. When I’m at school, I feel overwhelmed. Yet at home I feel sad, empty, and worthless. Normally, I don’t let feelings like this affect me, but lately, I’ve been having meltdowns regularly. I’ll randomly start screaming and panicking over the insignificant things. I’ll stop feeling emotions and shut down. I’ll even want to cause myself pain, so I’ll hit a wall until my hand is red, or sprint back and forth until I’m ready to throw up. I don’t know how to stop these horrible feelings. Even when I get a break, I still feel empty and sad. Most people don’t even know about these feelings I’ve been having because I act normal most of the time. I feel like I’m constantly going from feeling like I’m finally happy, to horribly angry and panicky, to empty and sad. I hate it, and I don’t know how to fix it, and nobody seems to want to help.
CONSIDER THIS
- It seems like you are overworking yourself. It is good that you understand that your current mental state is not healthy, and you want to change this.
- You say that you usually carry on like everything is normal, but you should consider seeking adult or professional help. Because of your high level of negative emotions (anxiety, tiredness, dissatisfaction, feeling overwhelmed) it may be a good idea to consult a psychologist. They can offer a lot of insight, advice, and new perspectives to thinking positively.
- It is okay to ask for help. Talk to an adult, whether it is your parent, a school counselor, teacher, nurse, or doctor. People do care about you.
- Make sure you are practicing healthy ways to deal with stress and anxiety. Get enough sleep, exercise, and eat healthy. That is so important to mental health. When you feel overwhelmed, try to meditate (close your eyes and breathe slowly and deeply).
- Manage your work and if you are overwhelmed, cut things out from your to-do list. Don’t take more than you can manage. Your health is the most important thing. Take breaks from working when it seems like too much.
- Most importantly, don’t be too hard on yourself. Don’t think that you are not being or doing enough because you are so important. Focus on being happy and healthy. You are strong and capable.
HELP YOURSELF:
- What situations usually set off these negative emotions?
- Who can you turn to for help?
- What steps can you take to slowly improve your mental and overall health?
- Why is it important to feel better?
