By Zayna Desouky, SRVUSD High School Student
Ever since I can remember, I have always been independent. When I was younger, I preferred to play by myself, and I’ve always had a way of figuring out and learning most things on my own. This was not something that was forced upon me, but rather just how I came to be.
Flash forward to my junior year of high school. I was still the same independent girl, but I started to notice a change.
Although my parents have never put pressure on me to be good in school, I have always pushed myself to be the best I could. Eventually, they came to expect it. It started to feel like everyone was so used to me being on my own that they simply believed I could figure everything out alone, even when I felt like I couldn’t.
When Being “Fine” Became Too Much
Midyear, I spiraled. Every day, I could feel the anxiety weighing me down, along with a persistent sadness and loneliness that I could not find a reason for. Even though, in my mind, I knew I needed to talk to someone, I had become so closed off that it felt impossible to say the words: I need help.
I felt as if I had to be fine because my family and friends expected me to be, even if that wasn’t truly the case.
The Pressure to Handle Everything Alone
I don’t think I’m alone in this feeling. The pressure of school, sports, and everything in between can start to take over your life. Asking for help can feel like becoming a burden, as if what you are going through is something nobody wants to hear.
But when I finally did ask for the help I needed, I realized something important: my friends and family were actually happy that I was able to come to them.
They didn’t feel ashamed or burdened. They felt proud.
Help Is Here in Our Community
For teens in our community, it’s important to know that places like Discovery Counseling Center exist.
Discovery provides accessible support for students in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District, with free on-campus counseling services for those who feel overwhelmed and need someone to talk to. Their clinic offers sliding scale services and financial assistance.
Even if you feel like you have no one, organizations like Discovery Counseling Center are here and determined to help you find the support you need, whether what you are facing feels big or small.
Asking for help can be difficult. But you do not have to carry everything alone.