Anxiety

If you’re a teenager in Britain, dealing with the constant pressure of exams, it’s normal to be under stress - to feel anxious. Especially, in this period of time whilst you wait to find out what your results might be. But, when does anxiety about exams become a deeper problem? When does it develop into something far less healthy, and potentially far more dangerous?

Perhaps the start of a mental health disorder?

Here’s a truth for those of you who don’t know: you will feel stressed and anxious during exam periods. It means that you’re trying, that you care. Despite this, you still need to check yourself, because a seemingly normal anxiety could be the beginning of a mental disorder which could overtake your entire life.

Don’t let it.

It’s normal for young adults to be under stress caused by the future; however, this could be the time that you realise that there is something deeper. An important symptom to look out for is if you’re worrying all of the time, about things in your everyday life, or even about things which aren’t likely to happen.

You could even be worried about worrying!

Being a part of the society that we live in today, with social media almost ruling elements of our lives, it’s important to keep your mental health in check. Your mental health is often overlooked, because the symptoms or the disorders aren’t physical, but rather take control of your mind and feelings. That doesn’t mean they’re any less of a cause for concern.

We worry about everything. The internet is a place filled with some horrible people, and as a result, we think carefully about every single thing that we do or say on social media. It scares us how other people might perceive us, despite the fact that they are just as worried about how they’re perceived themselves. Films and television have elements of truth to them, but hopefully for most of us the fear of bullying isn’t as dramatic or traumatic as some like to suggest. You’d like to think that if someone has even an ounce of decency within them, they won’t consider bullying or pointing out flaws – there’s no need, and frankly no point.

But that’s the reason our mental health is just as important as our physical health. Because we consider every single thing that happens on the internet: the fact that the way we type could be wrongly received, or even the hashtags that we use. It can cause problems for so many, people you might not realise have mental health issues. This isn’t meant to be a ‘let’s all be happy and love each other on the internet’ decree, but please be aware that another person’s mental health is just as important as your own. No-one likes feeling miserable - don’t be make someone else feel that way!

I encourage you all - whomever you are – to explore the possibilities of a mental health disorder if you have even considered that there may be something out of place. Whether you have reservations or not, please do it. Take care of yourself. A mental disorder NEVER means that you are ‘looking for attention’. If you believe that you suffer from a mental disorder, please seek guidance. Whether it’s talking to a friend or family member, or even to a professional, your mental health depends on it.

Mental health disorders are scary, but with support they are able to be tackled and controlled. Even if it’s as simple as having negative thoughts towards yourself or your body, please speak to someone or seek help- you never know what that could mean for you in the long term.

Who knows? It might just save your life.

Please, please, don’t just assume that everybody feels the same way, or that everyone will abandon you because you have a problem. You are important.

Worrying about school or more could simply mean that you are stressed. Or, it could be something different entirely. Don’t take the risk.

Get help so that you can help yourself.

Below are links to a few websites about mental health. Please just take a few minutes out of your day to browse these websites if you feel you need to, and please remember that when it comes to mental illness, I promise you: you are not alone.

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http://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/anxiety-and-panic-attacks/?gclid=CjwKEAjwn7e8BRCUqZiP_vnrtBkSJAC_lp4HO8cgOYZXTuXwtcIvtL0IwI-I7y6eO7ANAeaTzNjfIBoCXknw_wcB#.V44cOrgrLIU

http://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/index.shtml

https://www.rethink.org/diagnosis-treatment/conditions?gclid=CjwKEAjwn7e8BRCUqZiP_vnrtBkSJAC_lp4Hf6_k6J7MccPrsPY2vey6t6Agfx8O3XN7UOdVBJzxLhoCbuLw_wcB

http://www.health.org.uk/theme/mental-health

#MentalHealth