Every day, I walk into school with a smile on my face. I greet my friends, I laugh, and a majority of people would never guess that inside, I have a whirlwind of struggles occurring. My muscles are tense, my stomach is churning, my head is spinning, and my mind is racing.
Growing up, I’ve always dealt with anxiety. Not just nerves here and there, but debilitating, life-changing anxiety. School has always been a struggle for me especially. Nobody wants to have a panic attack in front of their peers, but as soon as I feel one coming on, I feel the need to leave the classroom. The misconception of this by teachers has sometimes been that I’m just trying to skip class. In reality, I need a minute to collect myself before the panic gets so strong that I become inconsolable.
At Park specifically, I utilize the Zen Den to regulate myself. What I’ve found is that spending a class period or two in this space designated for regrouping gives me time to regulate myself and bring myself back to a comfortable level so that I can get through the rest of my school day. Some teachers might not understand that, for a student with anxiety, we may just need to step out of the classroom for a bit so that our anxiety doesn’t reach an unbearable peak.
My sister, Annaleah Glennon, agrees.
“Students should utilize the Zen Den because no one is okay 100% of the time, and it’s okay to need a break to take a breath and regroup,” said Glennon.
Wheeling Park High School’s counseling department does an incredible job at focusing on students and their mental health. Dr. Maloney encourages students to learn coping strategies to help them stay at school and do their absolute best.
“It’s about learning about yourself and what coping strategies help you and what your stressors are, so you can try to prevent the stressors,” said Maloney.
Mental health is sometimes a difficult topic to discuss with others, and many students may feel embarrassed to reach out for help. If you are struggling, it is immensely important to find people who will help you.
“Find someone you trust and tell them what’s going on,” said Glennon, “it might be weird or uncomfortable or scary, but it’s your best course of action when you’re struggling.”
If you are struggling, my best advice is that you should never just pretend you’re doing alright. There is always at least one person who wants you to do and feel your best. Please realize that you are never alone and no matter what, you are important and you matter. Everyone struggles sometimes, and coming from someone who has absolutely been there, it does get better. Never doubt your worth, and never hide your true feelings behind a mask.
