Other Emotional Health Issues / Question
Published: November 26, 2007
Dear TeenHealthFX,
I hate everything in this world. I have no friends, no goals, and have gotten to the point where I don't care about anything. My parents don't love me at all, but how should I know, since I never see them because they are always working. If I do see my parents, they usually don't want to have anything to do with me. I get D's or worse in every class I take in school, and I don't even know why I bother going since all that happens is me getting made fun of all day. The only thing that makes me happy anymore is the pain of others. I don't see why I'm still alive. If high school is the best years of my life, than that doesn't say much about life.
Signed: I Hate Everything In This World
Dear I Hate Everything In This World,
TeenHealthFX is very concerned about you because it sounds like you are feeling very isolated and like you do not have enough people to turn to for love and support. You mention not having any friends and feeling very distant from your parents – so FX can understand that it would subsequently be difficult for you to feel happy and motivated at home and at school when feeling so disconnected from others.
FX thinks that things can get better for you, but it will take some work and effort on your part. FX suggests that you strongly consider the following:
- Talk with your parents (or have a school counselor talk with your parents) about scheduling a consultation with a mental health provider. Your isolation from others, anger the world, and lack of motivation could be an indication of depression. It is important that a professional meet with you and assess if this is a possibility so that you can receive treatment, if needed. And even if you are not diagnosed with depression, a therapist can be helpful working with you to address the problematic peer issues and family relationships that are currently going on.
- Reach out to the school social worker and/or psychologist and let them know how you have been feeling. These school staff members can be wonderful resources in terms of having someone to talk to, lean on, and get some support and guidance from. In addition, FX recommends that you let these staff members know that you are being made fun of at school, so that they can provide you with some assistance with this issue.
- Consider joining a peer therapy group. Peer groups can be an excellent way to learn how to understand and cope with the conflicts that occur with peers, since you mention that you do get made fun of at school.
- Consider joining some kind of club that you are interested in – whether it is through the school or through your town. It can be a great way to meet some new people, and to feel attached to something important to you and connected to others.
- Consider making plans to be at an out-of-town sleep away camp for the summer. It may be helpful for you to have a break from your current environment for the summer, and it would give you a chance to meet new people and engage in some new and interesting activities.
- If you are having trouble in any of your classes or difficulties feeling motivated to get your work done, talk to your teachers and explain to them how you have been feeling. The more people who know where you are at right now, means more people who can be there for you with support and guidance.
FX would also like to stress that high school may feel like the best years for some, but for others it is a very tough phase of life that many people are more than happy to put behind them – and these people tend to find their adult years much more peaceful and enjoyable. So just because you are not experiencing your teen years as the best years of your life, it does not mean that it will be downhill from here for you. It may be that for you, as you get older and move away from your teen years you will feel better about yourself and about life in general.
If you live in northern
Since you mention hating the world and being unsure about why you bother with things like school, FX would like to stress that if you get to the point where you begin to think of hurting yourself in any way 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
Signed: TeenHealthFX
Compared with other age groups, teens have the lowest rate of seat belt use, and male high school students are more likely than female students to rarely or never wear seat belts.
