Those from the LGBTQ+ community have shared with us that this time of year can be difficult for them depending on their own family dynamics.
There are ways in which we can cope which we discuss below!
Category: Information and resources
Managing Christmas
Christmas for many is a season of hope and celebration, but it can often feel overwhelming.
Supporting yourself through college
The initial thrill of starting college may have worn off, you might feel stressed as coursework starts to build up. Other things, like keeping up with friends and dealing with money pressures can also make you feel stressed.
These feelings are normal. Learning to deal with difficult situations is all part of breaking out and becoming your own person.
Coping with college pressure
The college year is well and truly underway and the summer break is now but a distant memory. With exams looming and a list of assignments to get through, not to mention work and social commitments to keep up with, it might feel like the pressure is mounting.
Navigating Leaving Cert result stress
On Friday, 25 August, young people will be getting their Leaving Cert results.
The wait beforehand can be an anxious and stressful time for many. Here we share helpful tips and advice gathered from our team of mental health professionals and other young people who have been there.
Remember to give yourself credit
No matter how your results turn out, you deserve to celebrate your hard work. And remember, your exams do not define your worth.
Take your time
Moving forward is personal. Don’t rush. Give yourself space to figure things out. Check in with yourself now and again about how you are feeling. If you are worried or stressed sometimes, that is OK. It is normal to feel that way. But don’t be afraid to seek help if you feel you need it.
Managing your disappointment
While it is hard to deal with disappointing results, there are things you can do to help yourself navigate it.
Preparing for change
We face many changes throughout our lives. It can also be exciting, daunting, or exhausting.
No matter what we feel about it, change is inevitable and can’t be avoided. When we’re finding it difficult, often the problem isn’t the change itself, but how we deal with it.
The importance of routines
Having a routine is good for our wellbeing. Integrating new or strong routines into your life will take time, so be patient with yourself.
Supporting your mental health as you start college
Adjusting to a more independent life outside of the school system can take time.
Dealing with self-criticism
Too many of us are quietly, privately, hard on ourselves. We walk around with an inner critic, telling us we’re not ‘good enough’ and never amount to anything.
Sometimes we feel so much pressure to achieve, self-criticism seems like a necessity. Lockdown has kept us cooped up and in many cases with more free time. We may feel especially guilty if we’ve not been ‘productive’.
We’ve all seen people who ‘achieved’ despite the difficulties of the pandemic. Marathons run in backyards, new languages learned, what seems like hundreds of books read. It’s difficult not to compare ourselves and put pressure on ourselves too.
There’s a myth we can hang on to that a harsh inner critic is useful to get where we want in life.
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