i can’t really do anything but thug it out
i feel less motivated to do schoolwork all of the sudden. this is probably the start of something bad. i don’t want to live in this hol e again.
all i do is scroll on my phone to pacify myself and forget what i will inevitably have to do and how i have ruined my future by continuing this cycle.
ironically— i think i am getting worse
Forum rules
We ask that users looking for general, ongoing emotional support post in this area of the boards, and that you use this space to both ask for, give and receive that support primarily from each other, rather than from our staff and volunteers. As a staff, we simply are often too overextended with all we need to do in running the organization and its services to do that for extended periods of time, and one of our main aims of our community at the boards has always been to facilitate peers to better be there for each other.
Users often report that they have no in-person peers they can talk to or seek support from: we want this to be a space for online peer support and somewhere everyone can get some practice asking for, getting and giving support so that doing it with people in your lives feels more doable.
Please remember that neither staff, volunteers nor your fellow users can provide or replace mental healthcare when that is something you need. Users struggling with issues like anxiety, depression, abuse or physical health issues are strongly encouraged to seek out qualified, in-person help with those issues in addition to peer or staff support.
We ask that users looking for general, ongoing emotional support post in this area of the boards, and that you use this space to both ask for, give and receive that support primarily from each other, rather than from our staff and volunteers. As a staff, we simply are often too overextended with all we need to do in running the organization and its services to do that for extended periods of time, and one of our main aims of our community at the boards has always been to facilitate peers to better be there for each other.
Users often report that they have no in-person peers they can talk to or seek support from: we want this to be a space for online peer support and somewhere everyone can get some practice asking for, getting and giving support so that doing it with people in your lives feels more doable.
Please remember that neither staff, volunteers nor your fellow users can provide or replace mental healthcare when that is something you need. Users struggling with issues like anxiety, depression, abuse or physical health issues are strongly encouraged to seek out qualified, in-person help with those issues in addition to peer or staff support.
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aliengirl
- not a newbie
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- Age: 17
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- Location: USA
ironically— i think i am getting worse
"If you are not personally free to be yourself in that most important of all human activities... the expression of love... then life itself loses its meaning.” - Harvey Milk
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char
- scarleteen staff/volunteer
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- Sexual identity: aromantic queer/bisexual
- Location: southeast asia (SEA)
Re: ironically— i think i am getting worse
Hi aliengirl. I'm so sorry you're having a rough time 
Is there anything we can do to help you?
Is there anything we can do to help you?
the shining stars when the night falls / and the sun that leaves behind the sunset glow / they all have their unique colors! (=^･ｪ･^=)
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aliengirl
- not a newbie
- Posts: 42
- Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2026 1:00 am
- Age: 17
- Awesomeness Quotient: I like orangutans
- Primary language: English
- Pronouns: she/her
- Sexual identity: Lesbian
- Location: USA
Re: ironically— i think i am getting worse
I should stop staying up so late. It is not good for me. It makes me think negative stuff. I am sorry.
"If you are not personally free to be yourself in that most important of all human activities... the expression of love... then life itself loses its meaning.” - Harvey Milk
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Heather
- scarleteen founder & director
- Posts: 10763
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- Awesomeness Quotient: I have been a sex educator for nearly 30 years!
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- Pronouns: they/them
- Sexual identity: queery-queer-queer
- Location: Chicago
Re: ironically— i think i am getting worse
You know, it is very hard to be living in the world right now, envisioning our futures, and very easy to have trouble sleeping and disconnecting from anywhere we get information. In the event you are someone hypervigilant, it's all the more challenging. Either way, you don't need to be sorry for having a hard time or expressing that you're having a hard time here.
Would you like some help or support with things like getting to bed on time and limiting your scrolling?
Would you like some help or support with things like getting to bed on time and limiting your scrolling?
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead
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aliengirl
- not a newbie
- Posts: 42
- Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2026 1:00 am
- Age: 17
- Awesomeness Quotient: I like orangutans
- Primary language: English
- Pronouns: she/her
- Sexual identity: Lesbian
- Location: USA
Re: ironically— i think i am getting worse
I have this app that blocks all of the distractions. I’m going to turn the block feature on at 10PM to 4AM. I think that’ll help because really the only thing that keeps me up is my phone.
And I should probably put my phone away at least 60 minutes before bed. I feel like I have the systems in place, I just need to get the gears turning. It takes me about 30 minutes to get ready for bed so I could start that at 9PM and then read my book from 9:30 to 10ish.
I really struggle with consistency. I have no one to hold me accountable unfortunately.
And I should probably put my phone away at least 60 minutes before bed. I feel like I have the systems in place, I just need to get the gears turning. It takes me about 30 minutes to get ready for bed so I could start that at 9PM and then read my book from 9:30 to 10ish.
I really struggle with consistency. I have no one to hold me accountable unfortunately.
"If you are not personally free to be yourself in that most important of all human activities... the expression of love... then life itself loses its meaning.” - Harvey Milk
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Heather
- scarleteen founder & director
- Posts: 10763
- Joined: Sun Jul 27, 2014 1:43 pm
- Age: 55
- Awesomeness Quotient: I have been a sex educator for nearly 30 years!
- Primary language: english
- Pronouns: they/them
- Sexual identity: queery-queer-queer
- Location: Chicago
Re: ironically— i think i am getting worse
I understand that completely. You're always welcome to use the boards for that, if that helps, maybe checking in here before you log off? Or asking a fried to be an accountability buddy?
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead
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aliengirl
- not a newbie
- Posts: 42
- Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2026 1:00 am
- Age: 17
- Awesomeness Quotient: I like orangutans
- Primary language: English
- Pronouns: she/her
- Sexual identity: Lesbian
- Location: USA
Re: ironically— i think i am getting worse
I think using the boards would be a good idea. Thank you 
"If you are not personally free to be yourself in that most important of all human activities... the expression of love... then life itself loses its meaning.” - Harvey Milk
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Heather
- scarleteen founder & director
- Posts: 10763
- Joined: Sun Jul 27, 2014 1:43 pm
- Age: 55
- Awesomeness Quotient: I have been a sex educator for nearly 30 years!
- Primary language: english
- Pronouns: they/them
- Sexual identity: queery-queer-queer
- Location: Chicago
Re: ironically— i think i am getting worse
You're welcome!
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead
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darkingbog
- not a newbie
- Posts: 12
- Joined: Sat Jan 10, 2026 11:58 pm
- Age: 17
- Awesomeness Quotient: my open mindedness & showing up for others 8~)
- Primary language: English
- Pronouns: your own pronouns
- Sexual identity: emerging, queer(?), just myself
- Location: western washington/seattle metropolitan area
Re: ironically— i think i am getting worse
hi aliengirl. reading this and just wondering, how it's going? i know i similarly struggle with "i have the systems, i just need to get the gears turning," so i wanted to check in!!! you mentioned screentime, i also feel like it's hard to get off my phone at night. how is that going and how are you feeling?
Last edited by darkingbog on Fri Feb 13, 2026 4:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.
kindness rules, actually !? 
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aliengirl
- not a newbie
- Posts: 42
- Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2026 1:00 am
- Age: 17
- Awesomeness Quotient: I like orangutans
- Primary language: English
- Pronouns: she/her
- Sexual identity: Lesbian
- Location: USA
Re: ironically— i think i am getting worse
it’s going not good
but i will inevitably have to do stuff
so i just do it
i get off my phone when i feel sleepy
i don’t know
i’ll wake up tomorrow and feel horrible
what’s new
sorry if this seems hostile
but i will inevitably have to do stuff
so i just do it
i get off my phone when i feel sleepy
i don’t know
i’ll wake up tomorrow and feel horrible
what’s new
sorry if this seems hostile
"If you are not personally free to be yourself in that most important of all human activities... the expression of love... then life itself loses its meaning.” - Harvey Milk
-
Heather
- scarleteen founder & director
- Posts: 10763
- Joined: Sun Jul 27, 2014 1:43 pm
- Age: 55
- Awesomeness Quotient: I have been a sex educator for nearly 30 years!
- Primary language: english
- Pronouns: they/them
- Sexual identity: queery-queer-queer
- Location: Chicago
Re: ironically— i think i am getting worse
It doesn't seem hostile, it seems like you're having a hard time feeling hopeful. Can we help support you in any way?
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead
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darkingbog
- not a newbie
- Posts: 12
- Joined: Sat Jan 10, 2026 11:58 pm
- Age: 17
- Awesomeness Quotient: my open mindedness & showing up for others 8~)
- Primary language: English
- Pronouns: your own pronouns
- Sexual identity: emerging, queer(?), just myself
- Location: western washington/seattle metropolitan area
Re: ironically— i think i am getting worse
it's all good, hope is hard. like Heather asked, would it help to talk about anything?
hang in there friend <3
hang in there friend <3
kindness rules, actually !?
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aliengirl
- not a newbie
- Posts: 42
- Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2026 1:00 am
- Age: 17
- Awesomeness Quotient: I like orangutans
- Primary language: English
- Pronouns: she/her
- Sexual identity: Lesbian
- Location: USA
Re: ironically— i think i am getting worse
how do you help more?
i do not know, i do not have a desire for help in any way that i know of
it is nice to be heard though
i do not know, i do not have a desire for help in any way that i know of
it is nice to be heard though
"If you are not personally free to be yourself in that most important of all human activities... the expression of love... then life itself loses its meaning.” - Harvey Milk
-
Anya
- scarleteen staff/volunteer
- Posts: 165
- Joined: Mon Jun 10, 2024 4:23 pm
- Age: 20
- Awesomeness Quotient: I make my own jewelry!
- Pronouns: they/them
- Sexual identity: Pansexual
- Location: UK
Re: ironically— i think i am getting worse
Hey aliengirl,
We are here to listen if you need us <3
Have you also thought about seeking some help from other professionals like a therapist? We can absolutely be here to listen, but the scope of our services doesn't go too far outside the realm of sexual health education unfortunately, so for more specialized listening and support we would suggest looking to someone like a school counselor or therapist if that's something you have access to?
Therapy and counseling can be so so helpful even in just having the space, like this, to express what you've been feeling. Which you can still of course do here, but I do want to make sure you have also thought about options that may be better suited to support you long-term. How does that feel to you?
We are here to listen if you need us <3
Have you also thought about seeking some help from other professionals like a therapist? We can absolutely be here to listen, but the scope of our services doesn't go too far outside the realm of sexual health education unfortunately, so for more specialized listening and support we would suggest looking to someone like a school counselor or therapist if that's something you have access to?
Therapy and counseling can be so so helpful even in just having the space, like this, to express what you've been feeling. Which you can still of course do here, but I do want to make sure you have also thought about options that may be better suited to support you long-term. How does that feel to you?