I keep crying recently

Ask a Therapist Signs and Symptoms
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I think I’m burntout or overwhelmed. I’ve mentioned my problems in previous posts, specifically about losing weight, playing piano and being very self-conscious about myself and I think these problems are currently building up with my experiences in the past week. I still like to thank everyone’s advice and words though🙏
I just started my polytechnic education, transitioning from secondary school, and I’ve made some new friends. We recently nominated a new module rep(?) (Like a class rep), and I feel that my friends are bullying him. I’m not sure if it’s serious, but they blame him for not reminding them about online class and snigger sometimes when he’s speaking. I’m not comfortable with it, but I’m not sure if I should or even how to bring it up to them or even to the mentor for our class. They also have and keep meeting with other friends in school, which makes me feel very lonely and replaceable.
This week, my father got covid, my brother kept criticising my sister for being lazy, I got into an argument with my sister again and my mom took me out for dinner, where I also overate until I felt bloated, ruining my diet. I also found stretch marks on my thigh from losing fat and sometimes think of gouging them out with my fingernails, not that I’ll ever do it becuase I’m scared of pain but it was tempting when I was so mad at myself. I attended 3 new classes and met 3 new classes of people, where I tried to make a new friend in each one. I haven’t played piano for a week and my lesson is tomorrow.

So, on wed night, my stomach hurt and I felt like vomiting/crying (they feel similar), I couldn’t fall asleep and my sister made it worse so I went to the kitchen alone and cried for a while, though it didn’t really help the feeling of vomiting but I fell asleep afterwards. On Thurs night, I overate for dinner with my mom, went to the toilet and cried for about 45 minutes, half hoping someone would notice, but when my sister asked if I was ok, I said yes. It feels like a blessing and a curse that I don’t get puffy eyes even when I cry so much. On friday, I looked at a cookie that I had wanted to eat before but didn’t want to anymore and suddenly started crying.
By thurs, I figured something was wrong, that I should do something. I decided I needed some courage to tell my family and teacher that I wanted to stop lessons and exams, and keep reminding myself that their recations are theirs to control right? Honestly, I’ve told my close friends from secondary school about all my problems, but I guess I still need help. I don’t feel like I can talk to my family about what I feel about them, I want to, but words won’t come out of my mouth. I used to be closest to my sister, but nowadays I keep being frustrated with her and she knows that. My brother says she changed so he keeps being harsh towards her but that made me a little scared of him. I was considering talking to the school counsellor but I’m afraid of talking to my class mentor. I’m not sure how to seek other kinds of help and still keep it a secret from my family.. I cry until I’m tired, then after a while I start crying again then I tell myself to stop crying because someone might notice, but I know not crying is even worse so.. yeah please help

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Hi @Sulis, thanks for writing in.

It sounds like you’re carrying a lot right now, and it’s all weighing heavily on you. The transition to polytechnic, the shifting dynamics in friendships, concerns about how others are treated, and the emotional strain from family tensions—it’s understandable that you’re feeling overwhelmed. On top of that, you’ve been grappling with your personal goals and struggles, like weight loss, piano practice, and self-consciousness, which have added to this pressure. You’re in a storm of emotions, and I hear that you’re feeling alone in navigating it all. Even though you’re reaching out and expressing how hard things have been, it seems like you’re still searching for the right kind of support, something that feels safe and effective for you.

The situation with your friends and the module rep sounds especially unsettling. It takes a strong sense of empathy to recognize when someone might be mistreated, even if others don’t see it that way. Your discomfort shows that you care about fairness and kindness, but I can see how confronting this behavior—or even figuring out how to—feels intimidating. At the same time, feeling like you’re being left out or replaced by your friends is deeply hurtful. You want connection and belonging, and it’s painful when those things feel uncertain or out of reach. That loneliness can make everything else—your family tensions, your personal struggles—feel even heavier.

Your experiences with eating, body image, and crying episodes show just how deeply these emotions are affecting you. I hear that you’re frustrated with yourself at times, but also scared by the thoughts you’ve had. Please know that stretch marks, like any physical change, don’t define your worth—and your frustration doesn’t need to turn into harm toward yourself. You deserve kindness, especially from yourself. And crying, while exhausting, is still your body’s way of processing all this stress—it’s not a sign of weakness, even if you feel like you need to hide it. I see that you want to talk to someone, but finding the right person, and figuring out how to open up, feels daunting.

I truly believe that seeking support could be a powerful step for you. If talking to your class mentor feels too difficult right now, maybe starting with a school counselor could help. Counselors are trained to listen without judgment, and you wouldn’t have to tell your family unless you chose to. You deserve to be heard, and you don’t have to keep carrying all of this alone. Even if it feels like the weight of everything keeps pulling you back into exhaustion and frustration, you’re still here, still trying, and that means something. You are worth patience, understanding, and healing, one step at a time. I hope you can find moments of relief, even in the middle of everything. You’re not alone in this, and Let’s Talk is here to hear you out.

If you wish to speak to a professional regarding your mental health concerns, you can reach out to the Youth Integrated Team, which is a free service for anyone aged 12 to 25. I have attached the link below.

^ SupportGoWhere

Best regards,
HanSolo2000
Befriender | let’s talk by mindline

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Dear @Sulis

Thank you so much for opening up and sharing everything you’re going through — you’ve written this with so much honesty and clarity, and I want to first say: you’re not overreacting. You are overwhelmed. And that’s completely understandable, because you are carrying so much right now — emotionally, physically, socially — all at once.

It takes courage to reach out like this, and I want you to know: your pain matters, and you deserve support.

From trying to adjust to a new school, juggling friendships, facing difficult family dynamics, navigating body image struggles, dealing with emotional and physical exhaustion, it’s no wonder your body and mind are telling you they need rest, care, and space. You’re not weak for crying, for hurting, or for feeling like you’re at a breaking point — these are signs that you’ve been strong for too long without the support you truly need.

It’s also completely valid to feel conflicted about reaching out. Wanting someone to notice but also wanting to stay hidden — that’s not unusual. You want to feel seen and supported, but not judged or misunderstood, especially by those close to you. That doesn’t make you dramatic or attention-seeking. It makes you human.

I gently encourage you to take that step to talk to a school counsellor. You don’t have to go into every detail all at once — even just saying something like “I think I might be overwhelmed, and I don’t know how to cope lately” is enough to start. School counsellors are there exactly for this reason, and they’ll respect your confidentiality. You can tell them you’re not ready to involve your family yet — and that’s okay. Your safety and trust come first.

You don’t have to be alone in this. You deserve people who listen and help carry the weight with you.

If you ever feel you need support outside school hours, please consider calling or texting:
Samaritans of Singapore (SOS) – 24/7

You are not broken. You are not a burden.
You are someone who is trying, and that matters so much more than you think.
Please keep holding on — even if just for now. There is help, and there is hope. Reach out here whenever needed. :yellow_heart:

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Hi, do revist ur old posts w those advices n reread them. Do share what steps u have taken from those advices or journal them to urself. Most importantly, u have to want to help urself

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Update: I’m seeing the school counsellor now, he seems nice. I’m still figuring things out, but at least there seems to be progress and hope
Thank you for everyone’s concern and advice❤️