We all feel down sometimes. Some people more often than others. Feeling happy one day and sad the next just makes you human; it’s part of life. Do you feel lonely? Are you having a tough time at home or in school? Or did you end up in a tricky situation you don’t know how to get out of? Sometimes, we feel down without even knowing why. There are endless reasons why you might feel worried or anxious. Regardless of what you’re going through, you can chat with us. We’re here for you!
Worrying won’t hurt you. But feeling extremely worried over long periods of time can be hard. There are all kinds of reasons why you might feel worried – from waiting to find out how you did on a test at school, to not knowing what’s going to happen to a family member who’s ill. Sometimes, we don’t even know why we feel worried but can’t seem to shake the feeling – we call that kind of worry ‘anxiety’. It’s really important to talk about worry and anxiety, even when it feels hard to do so. Because keeping these feelings bottled up can make it hard to relax, sleep, hang out with your friends or concentrate at school. Sometimes, it can even feel like you can’t breathe or like your heart is beating too fast. We’re here for you if you want to talk. You can be anonymous and we’ll always support you, no matter why you feel worried or anxious.
Here are some of the questions we get a lot about feeling down.
Having a lot going on at school or in life in general can cause stress. Or sometimes, we’re stressed because we feel like we’re not good enough, like we need to do better. If it’s hard to destress at night, don’t just shrug off the issue, because stress isn’t good for you. ‘Relaxing’ means different things to different people, but it’s always a good idea to start by talking about your stress and where it comes from. Chat with us anonymously; we’ll listen and help you think things through. And remember: you are valuable, no matter what your grades say.
Self-harm can be a way of managing feelings that are hard to bear. Those feelings can have all kinds of causes. Hurting yourself can feel good in the moment, but it will make things worse in the long run. There are much better ways to manage your feelings. Step one is telling someone how you feel. Life can get better! Other people have been where you are right now; they got out of that dark place with the help of others. Chat with us anonymously and tell us how you’re doing.
For many people, it means a lot when a friend supports them when they’re down. Ask how your friend is doing and listen without trying to offer any solutions. Just show that you’ll keep being their friend, regardless of how they’re feeling. Often, you showing that you care is part of what your friend needs. If things are more serious, it might be a good idea to contact an adult or a professional, like someone who works at your school. Drop by and chat with us, we can help you figure out ways to help your friend. Important: if you believe a friend is about to take their own life, call 112!
It’s not unusual to wonder what it would be like to no longer be alive. Maybe you sometimes wish you were dead, or even wonder how you could take your own life. But that doesn’t necessarily mean you actually want to end your life. Perhaps you’re feeling incredibly sad and like things will never be better again. But no one should have to constantly walk around thinking they want to kill themselves. It doesn’t matter why you’re considering suicide: what matters is that you get help.
You’re not the only one who’s ever thought about suicide; usually, it helps to talk to someone about your feelings. You can chat with us anonymously, we’ll always listen and have your back. Or you can call Mind’s suicide hotline at 90 101, or chat with them – Mind’s chat is open 24/7. If you’re afraid you’re going to kill yourself soon, call 112 straight away.