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I am a seventh grader. Normal in some ways, weird in others. I stay in the library too long, and I have trouble not rambling about something that catches my attention. I have close friends, friends, sorta friends, and enemies. So I’m a normal seventh grader, with a few quirky things that made me special.
Now why am I telling you this? Because I’ve realized mental health as the basis of it, something that I’ve ignored for a while, and am finally coming to terms with this: it’s okay to not be okay. I, personally, struggle with figuring out how I’m feeling and conveying that to my friends. So when I brust, it’s like a volcano. Flowing and never stopping - burning hot.
I’ve come to touch with this after a few unwelcomed and definitely uncomfortable events happened in my life. Which brings me to the point of this article: take care of yourself before others. I always made a point to know I wasn’t someone who sobbed and cried at the littlest things. But I didn’t make my feelings known. You must do that. Tell a teacher you trust, a friend - get licensed help if needed and required.
Maybe you don’t want a therapist, or don’t know how to bring it up with your parents. Maybe you're afraid they won’t take you seriously. It may seem like they won’t, and if that’s the case, figure out a coping mechanism for you. Maybe it’s something you made up, or something you searched up. Whatever it is, if it works for you, it counts.
If you feel uncertain about coping mechanisms, or don’t know where to start, here’s some simple coping mechanisms, as well as more complex ones:
Yoga. Yoga is all about mind, body, and spirit. You can relax with as many scented candles as possible, and just stretch into whatever pose you like. Get in touch with your inner thoughts, and your inner mind.
Breathing exercises. Set five minutes everyday for yourself, and follow simple to complex breathing exercises. 5 breaths in, 2 breaths out, things like that. Close your eyes while you breathe, and make sure it’s in an environment that helps you relax, such as your bed, or in your backyard. Definitely not in front of a heavy workload of homework, but if such a case, close your eyes extra tight, and try to push the work out of your mind. It doesn’t have to be five minutes though, it can be longer. As long as you need to calm down.
Music. Music is a way to relax, so get your earbuds, and plug them in. Ignore everything else and just focus on the beat of the dreams, the feverish feeling you feel. Listen to your favorite song, or just play the whole playlist because you feel like it.
The “555” rule. The 555 rule is this: “Name five things you can see. Then, list five things you can hear. Finally, move five parts of your body you can feel.” This is simple, easy, and it gives your mind something to focus on. This is more so if you’re freaking out, but can be used if you are just stressed and need to calm down.
The 4-7-8 technique. You breathe in for 4 seconds, hold it for 7 seconds, then breathe out for 8, and repeat for as long as you need. Again, this gives your mind something to focus on and for if you freak out.
These next two are more complex than the ones shown above, and these may need a little help from a trusted friend. (Someone, preferably, in the same age range as you, so 10, 11, 12, 13, or 14.) However, these methods have worked better for some people, including myself, and I believe they may work for certain people.
Age Regression. This is generally what it sounds like: you get in touch with your inner child, and you act, per say, childish. Here’s why: your inner child dumbs down your feelings into the simple things they once were: Sadness, Happiness, Anger, and Fear. That’s it. No mixed feelings, just simple ones. This only is a problem for the fact that when doing this, involuntary regression is possible, where you slip into your inner child’s headspace when overly stressed. It acts as a safety net once you allow yourself to be in it. In this case, you may want to inform a TRUSTED and CLOSE friend about this so they can prepare for the worst, if you slip during lunch or something. BUT, involuntary regression only happens when you brush your age regression to the side, push yourself harder than your mental state can handle, or just are overly upset and stressed.
Pet Regression. Well, this is similar to age regression in the way it’s a safe state of mind that makes you feel free of responsibility. However, instead of going into your inner child, it’s more of a pet mindset, such as dogs, cats, bunnies, and etc. Simply, Age Regression you act more childlike, Pet Regression you act more petlike. While it is true we were never animals (unless you believe in the fact that spirits turn into different people over time), this isn’t regressing to something you used to be, like how Age Regression is. In Pet Regression it’s about regressing to your core.
These are just a few suggestions to take into consideration, but everyone, please, make sure your mental state is okay. Too many of us are being closed off and dropping like flies because we don’t have something to fall back on. It’s sad and not okay. It is fully okay to just say screw everybody today. It’s okay to be selfish sometimes. It’s okay to be anti-social, and be a jerk. If that’s how you want to be, then you be that. As long as your mental state is fine, then you can just be you. Mental health is SERIOUS, and it’s something you should take care of. Emotions, feelings, all matter. Just because you’re not an “adult” doesn’t mean you have issues. Mental health and disorders are very real, and there. Talk to the counselor, or get a therapist. It doesn't have to be in-person, plenty of sites have online therapists that you can register for and talk through chat.
Whatever you do, please take care of yourself, putting your mental health before others. It is you who lives your life after all, no one else can live it but you.
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