Hi there,
It can be very hard talking to people who you dont know. And especially about something thats important to you. Or something you're unsure about sharing because youve kept it to yourself until now.
All this can be made worse if you have a condition like social anxiety, where interactions with people are so difficult. I want you to know that youve done really well to take the first step to talk to me about whats going on.
There are several ways that you can contact ChildLine. It sounds like you've tried phoning them but then panic and hang up. Its okay to feel anxious about talking to a counsellor and it can take quite a few tries before you feel able to speak. One thing you could try is to look on our page on managing your anxiety. You might like to try out some of the techniques on there to see if they help you.
You can also speak to a counsellor is by having a 1-2-1 chat with them. Lots of young people find this less stressful. You could also write down what you want to say in an email and send it, and a counsellor will send a response to you within 24 hours.
Another option for you would be to talk to someone you trust. This might be a family member or a teacher or another adult thats important in your life. Or you could check out our message boards for support from other young people in similar situations.
Take care for now,
Sam
You can talk privately to a counsellor online or call 0800 1111 for free.
You can ask me about anything you want, there's nothing too big or small. I read every single letter but I can only answer a few each week. My replies are published here on my page.
