Stress / Question
Published: December 23, 2009
Dear TeenHealthFX,
i like really want to die! im so stressed right now its not even funny! its 1:30 in the morning im trying to finish this huge local history project for my college u.s class and it has! to be turned in by tomorrow before we go on break or its a 0. and i've been doing this all week. and ever since i got home! i know i wont get to sleep tonight because once im finsihed i have a huge english project due tomorrow too! that i also will get a 0 if i dont turn in. im so stressed im shaking like crazy im going nuts! how do teenagers handle all of this stress and homework!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!? i suck at it! i cant handle it... i want to fall apart and cry right now! i just want to start up all my bad habits like drugs and cutting im so stressed right now. and its not an option not to do it! i really could use some advice on how to get myself through the rest of this project without doing something i'll regret. please help! im falling apart at the seams here! i cant hold it together for much longer.
Signed: How Can I Get Through This College Stress Without Resorting Back To Drugs And Cu
Dear How Can I Get Through This College Stress Without Resorting Back To Drugs And Cu,
As for getting through these two projects, TeenHealthFX recommends the following:
· Consider a “power-nap.” If you go too long without sleep, not only will you have more trouble focusing on your projects in terms of the academic accuracy, but you also run a greater risk for feeling stressed, irritated and generally emotionally distraught. Set your alarm so you only sleep for anywhere from a half hour to three hours, or ask a friend to make sure you get up to finish your work if you are worried the alarm might not get you up. FX appreciates you don’t want to sleep too much because you have work to do, but keep in mind that if you don’t sleep and you’re completely overtired, you probably won’t be able to accomplish very much anyways. Better to have less time and greater focus than more time with little to no focus and significant emotional distress.
· If you are feeling this emotionally distressed, try to get in touch with your professors about these projects. Let them know that you are dealing with some serious emotional issues right now and want to know if you have any options regarding these projects. Can an exception be made for you to hand them in a day or two late? Can you take an incomplete? FX certainly hopes that most professors would not want students to jeopardize their physical and/or emotional well-being over a paper – so find out what your options are given the level of emotional distress you are in.
· Try and talk yourself out of whatever anxiety and agitation you currently feel. Think of the big picture in life and remember that one paper – even if it means you fail a class – is not worth you hurting yourself or ending your life. In the scheme of things, these kinds of school problems have solutions.
· Remind yourself that you are doing the best you can for yourself right now. You can tell yourself that in the future you will do some things differently so you do not find yourself in this position. But for now, just keep telling yourself that you will do the best you can given the situation and you will do your best to accept it.
· If you are at the point where you think you might cut yourself, participate in any dangerous drug-taking behaviors, or do any other kind of self-harming behaviors, seek help immediately. Go to your campus counseling center, call a hotline, go to local emergency room, call your parents, or whatever else to reach out for help if you are in a crisis period. Classes can always be made up – there is only one you and you need to take care of yourself.
Consider the following for the future:
· Once your finals are all done and you have the time, as well as more physical and mental energy to spare than you have at the moment, schedule a consultation for yourself with a mental health professional. It is important for a therapist to help you develop healthier coping mechanisms, as well as to help you find a better way to manage the agitation and anxiety that comes up for you around school issues. A therapist may also suggest that you meet with a psychiatrist to be assessed for psychotropic medication if you find that you need additional help managing anxiety and agitation. Finally, a therapist can help you to better understand the root of this anxiety and agitation so that the underlying problems can be addressed and you will not find yourself so distraught in the future when it comes to dealing with school issues.
· Come up with a study schedule for yourself – for the semester in general and for finals. To prevent yourself from having everything piled on you at the last minute, a schedule of what to get done and when might help you to spread things out and avoid getting to the stage you are in now. If you have trouble doing this on your own, ask fellow students, your RA, your professors, or someone at the campus tutoring center for help with this.
· Try and stay focused on the big picture. Things will not always go smoothly or perfectly in the moment. There will be things along the way that won’t work the first time and that have to be redone, and sometimes new paths will need to be carved out. But that is normal and okay. And even though some setbacks may occur at certain points in your life, it doesn’t have to derail you from your final goal. It may take longer and there may be some added frustration – but remember that you can still get there.
Consider the following resources:
· If you live in northern New Jersey and need help finding a therapist you can call the Access Center from Atlantic Behavioral Health at 973-247-1400. Outside of this area you can log onto the US Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website for referrals in your area. You can also contact your insurance company to get a list of in-network mental health providers or check with your school social worker or psychologist to get a list of referrals in your area.
· You can also contact the Self-Injury Hotline (information only, not a crisis line) at 1-800-DON’T-CUT, 1-800-366-8288.
· If you get to the point that you are seriously considering suicide or are afraid of your impulses then you need to seek help immediately. You can call 911 or go to your nearest hospital emergency room. In northern New Jersey you can also call the crisis hotline from Morristown Memorial hospital at 973-540-0100. Outside this area call the Suicide & Crisis Hotline, 1-800-999-9999, 24 hours, 7 days a week.
Signed: TeenHealthFX
Teens with untreated depression are more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors, leading to higher rates of teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.
