I’m 14 and stressed out with the pressure of school and friendships

Being an adolescent is hard, and choosing the right path seems make or break. But you don’t have to be your best all the time – it’s in failure that we grow

Every week Annalisa Barbieri addresses a problem sent in by a reader

I’m 14 and dreading the return of feelings that school brought last year. It was a rollercoaster, and just the tiniest thing – or sometimes even nothing – had me depressed for an entire day. Sometimes I zoned out so much that I would forget where I was, and I generally lived in my head, imagining what could have been different, what I would like to happen. It was this detachment and the feeling that no one related to this that really got to me. It’s those feelings that I don’t want to go back to, plus the constant pressure and having to do my best in everything – and having no time for myself.

I’d like to talk to my GP, but my parents alway sit in on my appointments, and I don’t know how to nicely ask them to give us some privacy without getting yelled at or grilled afterwards about every single word exchanged.

Every week, Annalisa Barbieri addresses a personal problem sent in by a reader. If you would like advice from Annalisa, please send your problem to [email protected]. Annalisa regrets she cannot enter into personal correspondence. Submissions are subject to our terms and conditions.

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The latest series of Annalisa’s podcast is available here.

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