Exams, seniorities and anxiety

Senioritis: Defined as a colloquial term mainly used in the United States and Canada to describe the decreased motivation toward studies displayed by students who are nearing the end of their high school

If you’re reading this right now, I’m going to assume you have senioritis, probably procrastinating from studying. I’m assuming that because I’m writing this post to procrastinate from writing a business report, so haha can relate.

Exams are stressful, no doubt about it. When you have to read over an entire years-worth of content in 2 weeks for 6 different subjects, you tend to get unmotivated. I haven’t been motivated at all for my exams. Don’t get me wrong I’ve been studying my little ass off but I haven’t actually wanted to or felt the motivation to. I guess you could call it seniorities? I don’t have any motivation anymore, and I’m not the only one. A lot of people have been telling me that they don’t have motivation either.

So, how and why did we turn from motivated, ready to learn students, into people who wake up 5 minutes before the bus comes, shove some books into our broken binders that probably aren’t even the right books for that day, stuff an up and go down our throats then go to school and drag our feet around for 6 hours of what seems like hell? Maybe it’s the pressure we put on ourselves? Maybe it’s the pressure that our parents put on us? Who knows.

Exams also bring on a lot of anxiety and problems for teens who suffer from mental illnesses. For example, a few years ago I would avoid studying for as long as I possibly could because I would rather fail then go over notes and feel extremely overwhelmed and anxious about how much content there was, and have a panic attack / breakdown over it. But, to everyone around me they saw me as lazy, no one knew that I avoided studying because of my anxiety they just thought I was lazy and didn’t want to do well. (which is completely not true I’m a huge over achiever) Since then I’ve gotten help and found ways to deal with my anxiety, but so many young people haven’t and don’t know how to get help.

According to Beyond blue, over 75% of metal disorders in Australia are formed before the age of 25. In Australia, one in six young people aged 16 to 24 years are currently experiencing an anxiety condition, and one in 16 young Australians are currently experiencing depression. Mental illness is a serious problem in today’s society, and it’s not something that people should glorify or make fun of. It is very surprising the things anxiety makes you realise about yourself and people around you, it really opens your eyes to the insane amount of people who are misinformed or uneducated about mental health.

I don’t suffer from the feeling of anxiety anymore and I hardly get panic attacks, but that doesn’t mean I’m completely healed. Anxiety never goes away; it is more than just feeling anxious. Its constantly second guessing yourself, overthinking, thinking that everyone secretly hates you, especially your friends, constantly being tired from fidgeting all day, constantly feeling like everyone is watching you. And it’s hard to cope with it when your friends don’t understand what you are trying to communicate to them. It’s exhausting having to explain to people that I’m not sensitive, it’s not the ‘banter’ or slightly offensive jokes or the being mean to me because you can that gets to me, it’s the fact that my anxiety makes me believe that my friends hate me when they make those comments. And when I try to explain this I always get the same response “oh she’s pulling the anxiety card again.” “you can’t guilt trip me because of your anxiety.” “it’s you, you know I’m kidding.” What you fail to understand is that I know you are kidding but my anxiety doesn’t. My anxiety doesn’t care that you are joking or that it’s ‘banter.’ It makes it so so so hard to be friends with people who refuse to accept that I can’t control my anxiety and make me feel like shit for feeling the way I do. (Disclaimer most of my friends are amazing and very supportive, but there are some people who I’m really close to who just don’t get it)

In these next few weeks, be kind to one another, study and do as well as you can and don’t beat yourself up over a test score. You are more than a mark, don’t let your entire life be affected by one test.

Until next week,

Mikala.

Shout out to my mates James and Suhayb :), you guys are the best. 

Help is never far away-

beyondblue Support Service
Information and referral to relevant services for depression and anxiety related matters. Phone: 1300 22 46 36
http://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/get-immediate-support(link is external)

Headspace
Headspace is the National Youth Mental Health Foundation. We help young people who are going through a tough time.
http://www.headspace.org.au/(link is external)

Kids Help Line
Confidential and anonymous, telephone and online counselling service specifically for young people aged between 5 and 25. Phone: 1800 55 18 00
http://www.kidshelp.com.au/(link is external)

LIfeline
24 hour telephone counselling service. Phone: 13 11 14
http://www.lifeline.org.au/(link is external)

ReachOut.com
ReachOut.com is Australia’s leading online youth mental health service. ReachOut.com is an initiative of the Inspire Foundation, an Australian non-profit with a mission to help young people lead happier lives.
http://au.reachout.com/(link is external)

The Butterfly Foundation
Butterfly provides support for Australians who suffer from eating disorders and negative body image issues and their carers. Phone: 1800 33 4673
http://thebutterflyfoundation.org.au/

Black Dog Institute
The Black Dog Institute is a world leader in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mood disorders such as depression and bipolar disorder.
http://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/public/gettinghelp/overview.cfm(link is external)

Carer Gateway
Are you one of the 2.5 million Australians who care for a loved one, friend or neighbour? Find out information about the support services available to you, on the Carer Gateway.
www.carergateway.gov.au(link is external)

Gambling Helpline
Starting to think gambling might be a problem? Find out about the signs of a problem and assess gambling issues and spending. Phone: 1800 858 858
http://www.gamblinghelponline.org.au/(link is external)

Mensline Australia
A dedicated service for men with relationship and family concerns. Phone: 1300 78 99 78
http://www.mensline.org.au/(link is external)

Mindframe-Media
For media and resource information about suicide in Australia
http://www.mindframe-media.info/(link is external)

MI Networks
Offering access to relevant, up-to-date information, peer support and connections to local community networks, Mi Networks members provide a personalised response to the needs of individuals living with mental illness, their carers, friends and family members. Phone: 1800 985 944
http://www.minetworks.org.au/(link is external)

1800RESPECT
National sexual assault, domestic family violence counselling services 24-hour online support for workers and professionals.Phone: 1800 737 732
https://www.1800respect.org.au/(link is external)

Parentline
Parent Line is a telephone service for parents and carers of children 0-18 in New South Wales. Phone: 1300 1300 52
http://www.parentline.org.au/(link is external)

Relationships Australia
Relationships Australia is a leading provider of relationship support services for individuals, families and communities. Phone: 1300 364 277
http://www.relationships.org.au/(link is external)

SANE Australia
SANE Australia is a national charity helping all Australians affected by mental illness lead a better life – through campaigning, education and research. SANE conducts innovative programs and campaigns to improve the lives of people living with mental illness, their family and friends. It also operates a busy Helpline and website, which have thousands of contacts each year from around Australia. Phone: 1800 187 263
http://www.sane.org/index.php(link is external)

Blue Knot Foundation Helpline (formerly Adults Surviving Child Abuse)
The Blue Knot Helpline provides information and short term counselling nationally via telephone for adults survivers of childhood trauma on 1300 657 380 and email helpline@blueknot.org.au(link sends e-mail) 7 days a week 9am to 5pm AEST.
http://www.blueknot.org.au(link is external)