Dear reader,

Days are long. Nights are longer. Sleeping is a challenge because you either can’t sleep or you sleep too much. You cry to yourself often and tell no one of how you feel. You hate to get people involved in your problems. You might even think everyone hates you and that you can’t talk to anyone because they you don’t think they will listen. You have a hard time breathing. You feel pain, both physically and emotionally. You feel so down that you don’t know how you will ever get back up. I promise, you will get through this, no matter what it is.

Take some time away from the rest of the world, and sit in silence. Try meditation or prayer. Silence alone helps. By praying or meditating, you might start to feel slightly better because in a way, you are getting your feelings out. Even though I said silence is good, you might want to use that silence to scream or cry alone. No matter how, get your feelings out.

Another way to vent your feelings is to go to therapy or counseling. They help a lot. You air your feelings to someone else. They can give you advice on how to help improve things. Sometimes, therapy gets put down, but so many people do it that you would never expect. If you are in college, health centers usually offer free sessions because college is one of the most stressful times in a young person’s life.

Distract yourself from the problems. Spend time with friends and family. Play sports. Watch movies or television shows. Cook or bake things. Clean your room or even the whole house. Look on Pinterest for clever crafting ideas. All of these distractions can help you to get your mind off of the problem and maybe even help you forget about it all together.

Talk to your friends. Even if you think they do not want to hear about your problems, I promise they want to make sure you are OK. They will listen to you and try to help you to the best of their ability. They love you and they want what is best for you, which includes you staying healthy both mentally and physically. Friends are honestly one of the best ways to get help because they are honest with you and know you so well.

There are so many other ways that you can receive help, so don’t give up. If you are having a hard time with anything, at least try to make use of some of my suggestions. I promise they will help you through the tough times. Just know that some days are easier than others, so you just have to take things one day at a time. You will make it through the tough times. Don’t give up, and don’t lose hope.

Sincerely,

A friend