Advice For Children & Young People

Do you have a question? There's no such thing as a silly one. Take a look at the Q&A below - you might find the answer you're looking for (and if you don't, send us a message and we will do our best to answer it and post the response anonymously for others to see).

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I am worried about myself, or someone else, always feeling really low. What should I do?

It's completely normal to feel low sometimes and there are things you can do to ease your mood. Find activities you enjoy doing and if possible, do them with other people. This is different for everyone (it could be listening to music, playing sport, drawing, gaming or something else) and provided it's safe, and not offensive to others, go ahead...it's okay to be selfish sometimes. If someone's low mood goes on for long periods of time or prevents you from getting on with your daily tasks, then it is a good idea to seek help. When your emotions feel like they are too much, talk to a trusted adult about how you're feeling and if you're thinking of hurting yourself or it's an emergency, call Samaritans (116 123), Childine (0800 1111) or go to A&E.

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Why do I feel anxious all the time? Will I always feel this way?

There's no easy answer to this question, as everyone is different. However, you can rest assured you are not alone; feelings of anxiety are very common, and there are things you can do to help. The first thing to do is to learn your warning signs and symptoms (maybe you feel hot and sweaty, or get a headache or feel sick, maybe you tense up and freeze). Next, identify your triggers and if possible, avoid them. Where its not possible to avoid your triggers, its important to discover and develop healthy coping strategies (e.g. breathing exercises, problem solving and goal setting, talk to someone you trust). In some cases, additional support is needed and you might want to discuss your thoughts with your GP or contact us for a chat.

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I feel like I have no friends and I can't do anything right.

Try to be kind to yourself - you will likely make yourself feel worse if you are unkind to yourself - you're probably not doing anything wrong. Sometimes it takes someone else to guide us in the right direction. Maybe joining a club would help, so you can spend time with people who share the same interests. If you're lacking in confidence, but want to join in with others, start with something small and build up to more challenging situations. If things don't seem to be going well, think about what you're trying to achieve and take your time when making decisions - stop, think, do - and this will help you figure out if the course of action you're taking is the right one for you.