Why do I feel like I am wasting my youth? My entire family has struggled with massive drug and alcohol addiction so I try to stay away from it, but it feels like I’m wasting my youth. I’m so afraid that I’m going to look back at this time in my life and be full of regret.
-Elle
Hi Elle,
Worrying about future regrets can have a big impact on the choices we make in the moment. The fear of regret can make us question even our strongest values.
The majority of young people face challenges at some point throughout their schooling.
Common difficulties can occur in the following areas: learning and curriculum, social and peer related and/or the physical environment.
For the most part, young people overcome these challenges and school provides positive, enjoyable experiences. However, for a number of young people, school can cause a significant amount of distress. This leads to difficulty attending school.
If your young person is currently experiencing difficulty attending school, this article covers the following:
I want to know why i can’t bring myself to want to go to school. i am a very social person at times and i don’t have any problems besides the few subjects but everyone has that problem. i feel very unmotivated, uncomfortable, anxious and extremely nervous at school. i was just brought home from school due to the fact i got sick because of the nervousness and anxiety. I want to be able to enjoy school but i don’t know how
-emily k
Hi emily k,
You are not on your own with this. We have heard from many young people who have started to experience anxiety as they start back to things like school and socialising. It’s great that you want to get back to enjoying school, and are looking for ways to do that.
Our self-care course for parents has been taken by parents all over Ireland.
Our mental health awareness course for parents is proudly endorsed by ESCI – Education Support Centres Ireland.
We are delighted to be announced today as a charity partner with Basketball Ireland. As part of the partnership, Basketball Ireland will be making a donation, as well as aiding fundraising.
A series of initiatives are planned over the coming year as part of the collaboration, to help players, coaches, schools, clubs and international sides. Basketball Ireland are in conversations with a charity partner in Northern Ireland and more information on this will be disclosed in due course.
I keep wanting to go on holidays but when COVID struck it ruins everything and I really miss traveling and really just want to have sleep overs with my friends but because of that darn COVID I can’t I’m oisin and I’m 12 years old and I have adhd
-Oisin
Hi Oisin,
Thank you for being honest about how you are feeling. Without a doubt, the current situation is really tough. It has put limits on many things that we used to take for granted.
It can seem like everyone else has found their group and is fitting in at school. We can end up feeling very lonely and isolated when we don’t feel we fit in.
If you feel like you don’t fit in, you’re not on your own. According to My World Survey 2, over one in five young people considered friends to be a source of stress. 39% of adolescents reported that they had experienced bullying at some point in their lives.
As we get older, we tend to spend much less time with family and more time with friends. For many young people, fitting in is really important. It seems that everybody wants to be popular. This can lead to social rivalry, competition and bullying, particularly in school.
When you feel like you don’t fit in, it can be an extremely tough experience. There are no easy answers, but some of the following may help.
I have been unemployed due to COVID since March and have no idea where to start over again as I have no college degree but beforehand had a really amazing job in the business industry. I don’t think I will ever get one like it again. Im stuck in bed all day not knowing where to go or what to do.
-neswilla
Hi neswilla,
I’m sorry to hear that you’ve lost your job due to Covid. There are lots of young people in a similar position at the moment, so your question will help others too.
Ever since my niece died my life hasn’t been the same, I’ve always been quiet lonely and now it’s even worse I feel useless all the time and my life is a chore. i realised one of the only reason I’m living was for her I don’t know what to do anymore
-Turtle
Hi Turtle,
I am so sorry for the loss of your niece. Grief is a really tough emotion and can take more time than we might realise to work through. There is no right or wrong way to grieve. You can read more about grief and loss here.
