sec sch student here. recently a friend of mine told me “wow youre so ‘employed’ for lack of a better word” and that hit me pretty hard because i realised to outsiders, im taking on a lot of stuff in and outside of school. i feel like im barely scraping through, barely doing the minimum work that needs to be done, barely having time to do everything i need to do etc. but i see others around me who have way more on their plate and they are still coping well, so is there something wrong with the way im managing my time? i hardly have time to slack or relax but when i do, i always feel guilty about not doing work yet too tired to start. i think im burnt out, but ive never been good at identifying when im stressed, so i cant tell. id rather someone else tell it to me.
i want to seek help but i dont want to burden my parents even further, bc i know theyre going through a lot as well. but i also cant go out for therapy or pay for therapy sessions myself so im stuck. i feel like im not okay (it might be a mental illness or just poor mental health) and my closest friends (in the best way possible) agree. but im also scared of being diagnosed, and having to undergo treatment esp bc my parents will know. what shld i do
Hi @responsiblelychee3119 thank you for sharing!
I can hear how exhausted you are, and the fact that you’re reflecting on it this clearly says something about how self-aware you are!
What you shared is something very real, yet easily overlooked or swept aside. The guilt from resting despite already running on empty, and on top of that, seeing how others seem to be coping well, adds another layer. But I do want to push back a little here tho.. the fact that others seem to cope better doesn’t mean something is wrong with you.. people have genuinely different capacities, different home situations, and different things they’re quietly struggling with that you can’t see from the outside. Comparison is a really unreliable measure here. So, since you’re already telling me that you’re experiencing burnout, please give yourself ample rest, you deserve it!
I’m also hearing how considerate you are in not wanting to burden your parents, and some of the difficulties you face when it comes to seeking help. With that, I’ve provided some resources below for you to explore!"
I also understand the fear of being diagnosed and undergoing treatment, but it’s worth knowing that reaching out for support isn’t going to fast-track you into a diagnosis or treatment without your involvement. Often it’s a conversation first and if something more is going on, knowing about it is almost always better than not knowing, even if it feels scary!