I feel unusually tired and sad most of the time I feel like crying…my grades are getting worse and at this rate of failure I’ll actually get retained also I cant let my parents know about this if not they will get rlly mad…they keep on talking about how important my future is and how important it is to study but I’m actually so tired I tried studying but either I cant or nothing goes into my brain…I rlly hate who I am now just scrolling and gaming everyday I hate the fact that I’m so different from last time I feel sad everytime I think about my future and I do care about my grades but I’m too tired to care anymore I want to give up…its so tiring
Relax.take a day,do what you want to do.give yourself the freedom.you are young,you have a whole life ahead of you, just practice mindfulness meditate,it can help. Think of what you truly want,study at least for 30 min a day.for yourself, for the freedom you could have afterwards. You don’t wanna regret not studying afterwards. I felt the regret,I wish I could go back and study harder.i hate studying sometimes. But sometimes we just have to do it even if we hate it. Talk to a friend, maybe study with them. You got this,I believe in you.you are strong.
Dear @LonelyShadow06
Thank you for writing in. I can see that you are feeling overwhelmed. I gather that you are under a lot of stress, worried about the future, disappointed in yourself and not feeling safe to share what you are experiencing. I believe this acute strain is energy sapping and attention draining. Understandably the brain is overtaxed, and you are too exhausted to study.
Take time re-centre to the present by practising focusing on the present instead of being caught up in a negative thinking cycle. I recommend the following breathing exercise. Start by taking one breath in for four counts, holding the breath for five counts and exhaling for six counts. Repeat this breathing cycle, and focus on the sensation of the air being taken in, the holding the air in and exhaling the air out. Do ten breaths.
I can see that you care deeply about your future and your results, and this shows that you have not “given up” as a person. I believe a person who truly does not care would not feel as much hurt about falling behind.
I hope it helps when I share that it is common for students to go through periods where they lose motivation, struggle to focus, and end up escaping into scrolling or gaming because it feels easier than facing stress all the time. However, recovery is possible.
Do also remember that one bad period in school will not decide your entire future. Many successful people who have failed in their past will share that the key is not to give up on yourself but to keep going one tiny step at a time, showing yourself kindness and refraining from self blaming.
You may want to check out some of mindline resources that are customised for students and youths by using the wayfinding feature available at the site as well.
https://www.mindline.sg/mental-health-service-providers/start
You do not have to handle this completely alone. I hear that telling your parents feels scary. How about another safe trusted adult such as a school counsellor as a start? I encourage you to get support because it is hard to carry this load alone.
I also encourage you not to pressure yourself into becoming “productive” overnight. Start small after resting and nourishing yourself first. Try doing just one tiny school task, even if it is only reading one page or answering one question. Small progress still matters, especially when you are struggling. Slowly and consistently build up load, increase focus and intensity.
The situation will improve over time and with effort so keep going.
thanks for believing in me…I guess I’ll try to study a bit everyday
I don’t rlly like talking to my school counsellor and I dont trust anyone from my school
i guess I can try studying for 10min a day I hope it will improve over time cos my father has been treating me like this for my whole life.. thx for ur kind words 
Hey @LonelyShadow06,
Thank you for sharing this. Would you be comfortable explaining what’s causing the discomfort when it comes to speaking with your school counsellor? And would you be open to recommendations for alternatives in terms of mental health support?
she seems overly empathetic and last time I said to not let my parents know but my father got called to school without me knowing…at least tell me first…
for alternatives will my parents know about this?
Hi @LonelyShadow06,
It’s understandable to feel unsettled after that kind of experience, especially when you had asked for privacy.
On the situation with your father being called in, it’s actually not 100% clear that your parents were contacted because you spoke to the counsellor. Schools sometimes contact parents for a range of reasons (attendance concerns, wellbeing checks, safeguarding concerns, or perceived risk), and from the outside it can be hard to tell what specifically triggered it unless they explicitly say so. Could you recall if there were any other incidents that warranted parental intervention, such as bullying, truancy or disciplinary issues?
Based on your account of the events, I’m also not able to conclude if it was indeed the school counsellor who called your father in.
About your question on alternatives and whether your parents would know:
- If you go to community mental health services or external providers, parental involvement usually depends on age and risk level.
- If you are 18 and above, you can typically access counselling or mental health check-ins without needing parental consent.
- If you are under 18, some services still offer confidential support, but they may have limits on confidentiality and could involve parents if there are safety concerns.
In most cases, your parents are not automatically informed just because you attended a session. Confidentiality is usually maintained unless there is a serious risk of harm to you or someone else, or a legal/safeguarding requirement.
If you are keen to know about the types of mental health services out there, feel free to let me know as well.
there wasn’t any bullying or disciplinary issues the counsellor said she was concerned but that doesnt mean the school can just call my father and tell him these without at least telling me first… I think my school shouldn’t have done that…
Hi @LonelyShadow06,
I can understand why you feel upset about it, especially if you felt unprepared or excluded from the process.
At the same time, I also don’t think any of us online would have enough information to confidently judge whether the school acted appropriately or not, since schools sometimes have internal safeguarding or wellbeing procedures that students may not fully see behind the scenes.
That said, I do think it would have helped if the communication had been clearer and you had been informed beforehand about what might happen, especially since trust and confidentiality are important in counselling relationships.
It also makes sense that this experience affected your trust in the school counsellor afterwards. However (like I mentioned in my previous reply), alternatives are available when it comes to help-seeking. I’ve provided a list below:
Singapore Children’s Society: Bookings
Community Health Assessment Team: CHAT Self-Referral Intake Form_2025
Grovve (Integrated Wellness Centre): mindline.sg | Free Mental Health Resources & Mindfulness Tools in Singapore
okay I will check it out thx