I feel like im a burden to everyone. No matter what i do i just dont feel like its right or good enough. I am really stressed out about having to meet all the high requirements for my results and playing my instrument. Everyone just naturally expect me to do well but that is making me extremely stressful and i feel like my grades are slipping and because of my stress i cant even play the simplest thing on my instrument and i want to DSA to JCs but i feel like i am just not good enough. On top of that my senior whom is from nyjc now , he thinks that i can play really well because of how i had play previously but it is kind of different now , no matter how much i tell him i am just not good enough , he still has high hopes and i know that is really nice of him but i am afraid of letting people down. I am scared that if i fail which i most likely would, i would disappoint everyone. My parents they want me to do well academically but i don’t think i can. Previously i have always done well but recently with olvls being so soon , i am getting nervous day by day and i really hope to get at least top 10 in cohort and appear on the screen when they announced the olvl results but i am rlly afraid that i wont be able to meet my own expectations. I have been thinking what if i cannot do it and i know it is probably better to think positively but i really just cannot help it. I dont understand my own brain and i overthink the smallest things. I dont feel like there is any hope in me and i really dont know what to do. I do have a lot of friends by my side but i always overthink that i might lose them all one day and so i have been impulsive recently and is really petty about not being included and i have a feeling that i might lose them all one day but i dont know how to prevent it. Most of them are my true friends and i know it is probably really hard to drive them all away but i dont want them to be annoyed and i cant tell them what i feel because im scared of being judged and too reliant. I feel hopeless and i dont know what to do. I dont want to open up to anyone and tell them things because i dont want to bother them but at the same time i want to build courage in me. I know its good to acknowledge my achievements but every time i do something well , i always think how long more until i make a huge mistake. Every time people notice me and my strengths , i always wonder how long more until i make them disappointed and drive them away. Recently , my math teacher said that i was one of his top three students and i know rhats a rlly good thing but i cant hold onto that title knowing deep down that one day i will definitely disappoint him. Because of that , the teachers and adults that notice my strengths usually stop about 2 to 3 weeks after knwoing my weaknesses. Please give me some advice. Thanks
Hey @Idk2,
You sound like you’ve been carrying so much lately. All that pressure—to do well in school, to not let anyone down, to be seen as someone who’s always capable—must be exhausting. I can really hear how hard you’re trying, and how scared you are that if you slip even a little, everything you’ve built might fall apart.
It makes a lot of sense why you feel stuck. You’re not only managing your own goals, but also the weight of what others expect from you. And it’s confusing—because even when people say nice things or believe in you, part of you still wonders how long you can keep it up before they see your “mistakes.” That’s a really heavy way to live.
The part where you said you don’t want to open up because you don’t want to be a burden—but also wish you had the courage to… that hit deep. It’s okay to want support, and it’s okay to be scared of what people might think. But you’re not alone, and I really don’t think anyone would want you to suffer quietly just to protect them. That’s not how friendships or even teacher relationships are supposed to work.
Maybe right now what you need isn’t to push yourself harder, but to take one small step toward being kinder to yourself. You’re allowed to rest. You’re allowed to not be perfect. And you’re still worthy of being cared for even when you’re unsure, struggling, or scared.
You’ve done so much already—even just writing this post takes guts. So what if your next step wasn’t to fix everything, but to just pause and say, “I’m doing my best, and I’m human”?
We’re here. You don’t have to figure this out alone. 
hi @Idk2 ,
Thank you for sharing what you’re feeling. Exam periods are stressful, especially important ones like O levels. Your worries and stresses are valid. I know you want to do well in both your academics and in your instrument. I am here to tell you that you can still achieve both of those objectives!
If you feel overwhelmed, please speak to your teachers and people you love, and i am sure they can find ways to help you cope with this stressful period and give you the motivation you need. The fact that people look up to you shows that they see your potential. Seeking help is a sign of strength!
Also, I would encourage you to take a step back and try to relax from time to time. Take some time to do a routine plan for yourself, incorporating breaks into it so it is manageable and achieveable. Like @FuYuan_Affections mentioned, may be you should not be pushing yourself so hard.
You are capable of achieving your dreams, don’t give up! 
Hi, I think we’re about the same age and i totally get it. I used to feel that way a lot and I really struggled. I can relate, my parents put a lot of expectation on my academic results and I was always so worried I would just make a huge mistake and end up being a failure and every small mistake would always seem so big. I also play instruments and I get it. The teachers have hopes of me and they’re super supportive which makes me really worried I wouldn’t meet expectations and would let them down because I just don’t think I’m that good. Honestly? These don’t ever go away. You can’t change what people do or think, I definitely haven’t been able to overcome the obstacle of high expectations and these feelings still hit me. But over the past year, I learnt how to better manage it and not let it affect me so much, and it was really a lot of trial and error. Just sharing how I managed to cope: Firstly, no matter what happens don’t undermine your achievements. Yes, i totally get that it’s hard not to when you don’t meet expectations and you see others succeeding and it just makes you feel like you’re crap and worthless. The truth is you’re still someone and you’re still valuable. It’s not the end of the world, shake it off and just keep going, and learn from it. For me, I learnt to balance my wins and loss, by just celebrating small wins to keep my motivation. I also struggled last year because of my friends. Similarly, they were good and caring friends who wouldn’t betray me or stab me in the back, but I felt that they were dragging me down and being a burden. I can’t even explain why, but the continuous annoyance and distractions from them really didn’t help and just pulled me down. I suggest explaining it to them, be honest and just say you need some space and need to focus on yourself. I won’t lie, there was some judgement, but if they’re your true friends then they should understand it, even if it takes some time. After all, at some point, everyone needs some space. I tried to surround myself with new people who could motivate me and provide a good environment to study and learn, and push me to do better, I got lucky to meet these people. I still keep in touch with my old friends, and we still text a few times a week and see each other in school, and i’m much more comfortable where I am right now. Also try to surround yourself with people with similar interest who support you, that’s important. Find something you’re passionate about, whether it is music or something else. Really spend some time on it, it may seem like a waste of time at first, but I realised it helped me to stay more focused and on track while giving me a break from the draining school stuff. Having a close friend with a passion in music helped me a lot, as both of us would bond over it and take on small projects together, and even if they took up our time, it gave me the break I needed. One last thing, find your happy place, I found mine in music, whether it was practicing a favourite piece that could help me vent my frustrations or music that could bring me to a comfort space, it helps. Right now, I’m still stressed and dealing with all these, but I’m managing better and a lot happier, and small changes can make a big difference sometimes. I hope you find these tips helpful, they’re mainly based on my experience so they may not work well for you, but I think trial and error is the most important thing, just keep pushing no matter how dark and hopeless it may seem, i promise it’s worth it
Hi @Idk2,
First of all, I hear you. Everything you’re feeling right now is valid, and it makes complete sense given the mountain of expectations you’re trying to carry. The weight of doing well academically, performing under pressure, and living up to others’ perceptions can feel suffocating, especially when your own confidence is quietly unraveling inside. It’s no wonder the things that once came more naturally - like music or studies - suddenly feel heavy and distant. The fear of disappointing people who believe in you is real, but it doesn’t mean you are failing them or yourself. It means you care deeply. That sensitivity, that awareness of how you impact others, speaks to your strength - not your weakness.
You’re not alone in these thoughts, even if it feels like you can’t share them. The pressure to uphold your image, to be consistent with past achievements, can make every dip feel like a catastrophe. But your worth isn’t conditional on your performance. You’re already enough - even in the moments when you doubt yourself, when you’re struggling to keep up, or when you feel disconnected from who you used to be. Sometimes, bravery looks like allowing yourself to be human: imperfect, overwhelmed, and still trying. You don’t have to do this alone, and there is nothing wrong or burdensome about reaching out. You deserve support, understanding, and room to breathe.
If you’re open to speaking to a professional about your concerns, you may reach out to the Youth Community Outreach Team (SupportGoWhere) for support. This is a free mental health service for all youths aged 12 - 25. 
For all other services, you may visit https://www.mindline.sg/mental-health-service-providers/start
Best regards,
HanSolo2000
Befriender | let’s talk by mindline