Anxiety Support Group
Anxiety is a physical condition marked by intense and persistent feelings of distress, fear, angst or dread. General anxiety caused by routine day-to-day stresses usually passes quickly and is experienced by almost everyone at one time or another. However, such feelings that linger over time and are very difficult to cope with, and which lack a clear cause, may indicate...
It's summer currently, and I've mostly been hanging out with friends and relaxing along with studying for my tutor lessons. But for the past year I've never been able to sleep just at least a solid 8 hours. I never needed an alarm clock to wake up because my eyes always open at 7am and I have trouble falling asleep at midnight. Like I"m so tired but coffee doesn't help and everyday my eyes are really restless. I'm just always deep in thought thinking about stuff especially for next year with my heavy courseload with 8 courses and making sure I still have fun, social life, and don't get burnt out. I always analyze life at this stage and questioning why we exist and where exactly are we in the universe and does God exist and stuff. I don't know how to finally have a night where I can sleep fully. Like all year it's still falling asleep late and shooting out of bed early with a bunch of thoughts resuming
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I haven't written in my diary on my computer since May because I thought that my computer was dying. I got away from writing but my computer is hanging in there. I think that I will start writing in it again. It's so therapeutic.
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First, I hope everyone is doing well, and continuing to fight that good fight! Keep up the great work on yourselves; I'm rooting for all of you!So, I started doing therapy at the beginning of the year, when I was in my most depressed state, but with my therapist, I made big changes and steps in the right direction. But, over a month ago, she couldn't take my insurance anymore, and I had to stop...
Vent freely. Vent often.
It's your final year of high school and it can seem like a daunting task to do school work, maintain a social life, extra curriculars, and your own personal challenges, including anxiety. However, you'll get through it and like Arfie said, the Dailystrength community is here to help out.
Anyway, I don't know the level of rigor of your high school, but I also had a very heavy course load in my high school career. Not sure how much things have changed in the five years since I graduated, but I can assure you, you likely won't burn out. No doubt you will feel stress and fatigue, but if you develop a solid routine you should do well. As for the lack of sleep, I too am familiar with such a lifestyle. I have a history of insomnia that in high school was as little as two hours a night. I'm not comparing our situations, but I'm saying that you shouldn't worry too much as long as you get a reasonable amount of sleep. You may feel awful, but if you get around 5 hours asleep you should be able to function well. Just think of medical residency students; they don't sleep and some have neurosurgery fellowship that they have to be sharp on. Also, there is a message spread in the media today that you NEED to get 8 hours of sleep a day, that you NEED to eat tons of fruits and vegetables a day, that carbs are evil, that gluten is monstrous, and that if you don't drink gallons of water a day, you must be dehydrated. There are two problems with this form of thinking. First, as you get older, you realize that no one, including experts really knows what they're talking about. Even Stephen Hawkings claimed to know nothing about the universe, so don't believe tragedy will befall you if your lifestyle isn't perfect according to "experts." Second, you know what really does harm your health? Worrying too much about it. So don't worry too much, you're young... I bet you heard that many times and hate it, but there is some merit to that statement. I'm not belittling your concerns at all, but it's easy to lose perspective. Step back every now and then and be mindful.
Anyway I over-elaborated there too much. Your chief complaint was exhaustion and burnout. The solution? Well, I could tell you get more sleep, but that's an insulting statement more than anything else. My advice would be to get regular exercise in an actually fun way. Don't be a person forcing themselves to go on a treadmill, that hates every moment of it. Do something that brings you joy. It will really make a difference if you have fun doing something like playing wall-ball by yourself or with friends as opposed to just riding a bike in agony. For more info on this, check out the book Play it Away: A Workaholic's Cure for Anxiety by Charlie Hoehn, or just visit his website. Another important tip is laugh. Adults laugh so little compared to children, and while your in between those age groups, I'm certain you could use a little more humor with all those courses and your existential dilemma.
As for your existential dilemma, no one can give you on answer there. You can read Sartre, Camus, Schopenhaur, Nietzche, Darwin, Kant, the bible, or any metaphysical or religious text and still not have a satisfying answer. My advice is to enjoy the moment and be around people. Don't spend hours alone ruminating how everyone dies. That's just wasting time and adding wrinkles to your forehead.
I hope my words bring you some encouragement and provide you with some help.
Have a great senior year.
The only other addition I might add is volunteering in some way, though this might not be the year for it with your school load. I find my life more fulfilling when I am spending it on other people rather than just myself. That could just mean being thoughtful of your parents', siblings', and friends' needs. Purposely doing something for someone each day?
Learn as many skills as you can right now to reduce the effects of anxiety.