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Hi there,
Its natural to feel stressed when your GCSEs are coming up. Finishing coursework and getting organised to start revision can be hard. When youve got other difficult things going on in your life, it can feel like you want to give up.
Its really important to talk to someone you trust about how you feel. It can take a lot of courage to talk about whats going on, and it might take more than one go to make yourself understood. But it's really worth talking to someone.
Writing down what you want them to know can be a helpful way to start. Perhaps you could leave a note for them to find, or bring them with you as a reminder of what to say.
Often people around you might have their own expectations about what youll achieve in your exams, and that can feel like a lot of pressure and exam stress, but there are ways to cope.
Exams can remind us that we're growing up, and its natural to find this tough. But remember, youre not alone. As you grow up you will be expected to make decisions about your future which can be scary. But it can also be exciting.
Its okay to feel like you dont have a clear direction or path in mind at the moment. You can take your time to discover your interests and ask others for help.
If you feel like you might have depression, anxiety or any other health problem, visiting your family doctor or GP can be a good way to find out whats happening for sure. They will have knowledge about treatments and support available to you in your area. DocReady is a great resource for helping to prepare to talk to a doctor about a mental health issue.
Being overwhelmed can make it feel really hard to cope and to work out what to do. Taking deep breaths and finding a quiet time to think about things can help you focus. You might also want to look at the BBC problem solving worksheet which helps to considering the good and bad sides of each option. You can also talk to a counsellor at any time.
Take care,
Sam
You can talk privately to a counsellor online or call 0800 1111 for free.
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