Are my feelings normal?

Everyone feels sad, angry, afraid or worried sometimes. That’s normal. But some kids feel sad, worried or angry a lot, or feel very anxious or down.

If your feelings start to affect what you normally do, it’s important to find out what’s going on and look for help.

Common worries

Lots of things can may make you feel anxious, depressed, afraid or upset. Some of them are:

• bullying or cyberbullying
• problems at school or at home such as if your parents have separated or divorced
• the death or illness of someone you love
• relationships with friends or other kids
• body issues
• sexual development
• abuse
• feeling that you don’t fit in or ‘measure up'

How can being worried or unhappy affect me?

You may feel worried or upset a lot and withdraw from family and friends. You may lose interest in school, sport or other interests. Some kids get angry a lot and might feel that they want to be cruel or violent.

Some kids who have trouble handling their feelings can get phobias (such as being scared of spiders or leaving the house) or become obsessive about things like washing their hands. Other kids eat too much, or too little or vomit up their food after eating.

Who can I talk to?

If your feelings are overwhelming or you often feel down, it may help to talk to someone you trust like:

• a parent or other family member
• a close friend
• a teacher, counsellor or coach
• your doctor
• a counsellor at youth mental health services such as Kids Helpline and Youthbeyondblue