Hi Sam, I’m quite new to childline. I wanted to ask for advice from you. In 15 turning 16 soon and I have gcse this year. As always they are difficult, bringing stress to me. My parents on the other hand aren’t making it better as they remind me every day that I need to do very well or I won’t make it in life. I struggle with sleep even though I sleep early and i struggle to focus in school. My schedule is soo busy so I never have time to do fun stuff and mostly i study but i feel like nothing stores in my brain.
My parents pay for tutoring and constantly remind me of how much they spend making me worried every time i think about it because it if I do bad they won’t be happy at all due to wasted money. My parents always tell me to revise to and I feel like I just can’t be happy anymore.
I feel like sleeping is the best part of my day and I hate the sound of my alarm every morning. My body aches all the time now and i feel because of the stress my body is shutting down but nothing serious. My whole life I’ve had pressure of studying and I just feel sad all the time. I lost emotion as a young boy now I struggle to smile. Most of the time I’m either having tears or neutral. I just want to be happy again.
I know how difficult life is with exams but increased stress is ruining my mental health. Every day I just have tears thinking about the stress. I feel like the world is closing in on me. Thanks for taking the time to read this Sam. Cya
Sam
Hi there,
Stress can be a helpful feeling. It can motivate us to work harder and push ourselves to do the best we can. When stress gets too much though, it can have the opposite effect. It can make it hard to concentrate, affect our mental health, or even make us avoid work altogether. You can even get stuck in a cycle where you feel unable to work, which makes you feel more stressed, and that makes you feel even less able to work.
Reducing the pressure can help you feel more able to work and support your mental health. You can’t take away your GCSEs, but it can help to think about your schedule and how your family can support you.
Your schedule for work and revision is a really important part of preparing for your exams. It isn’t about working the longest number of hours or doing nothing but revision. Having a healthy and manageable schedule is all about making time for work, relaxation, and taking care of yourself.
Making a timetable of what you should be doing can be a good way to make sure you’re planning time for things you enjoy. It can also to make it with your parents, that way they can see you’re working and it can help you feel less pressure at times when you’re taking a break. It’s important to include enough time for sleep, to eat healthily and to spend time with people you care about.
There can be times when your family might put pressure on you to the point that you don’t feel able to take breaks. If your family isn’t listening to you, it’s important to get help from other adults you trust. Whether it’s your tutor, someone at school, or someone else, sharing how the stress is affecting you can help. The adults in your life can support you to talk to your parents, or think about what you can do next.
Remember, you’re not alone, and lots of young people are going through the same thing. If you’re ever struggling or you just want to talk, the Childline counsellors are always here for you.
Take care,
Sam
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