Manage Your Feelings

Results Days can be stressful, it can help to understand how the day works and what to expect. We’ve compiled some links and resources to help you navigate the day.

New School Year

The new school year starts soon. It can be stressful to go back to school or start a new school. For some helpful tips, please see Aidan’s booklet.

• Having a long-term physical illness
• Having a parent who has had mental health problems, problems with alcohol or has been in trouble with the law
• Experiencing the death of someone close to them (especially by suicide)
• Parents who have separated or divorced (loss)
• Been bullied or physically or sexually abused
• Living in severe poverty or being homeless
• Experience discrimination: due to race, sexuality or disability
• A young carer
• Having problems with school or exclusions
• Experience of living in care

• Accepting who we are and recognising our strengths
• Being in good health, having a balanced diet and getting regular exercise
• Being able to have fun, indoors and outdoors
• Being part of a family, that gets along (most of the time)
• Going to a school /college that cares about its students
• Taking part in local activities or groups
• Feeling loved, trusted, valued and safe
• Having opportunities to learn & succeed
• Having aspirations and goals for the future
• Feeling valued

If you can, be clear and ask for help straight out or tell someone how you are feeling, that always works best, but it isn’t always easy. Here are a few ideas to help start the conversation…there’s no right or wrong way, give it a go!

• I don’t know how to deal with my feelings
• I want to tell you something but don’t know how to start
• I need some advice on something. Can you help me?
• How do I cope in the future?
• I’m really struggling at the moment, I need help

-Managing-Difficult-Feelings-

If you’re feeling hurt and stressed and anxious by what has been happening, try some of these muscle exercises to help you relax

• Hands – clench one hand tightly for a few seconds as you breathe in. You should feel your forearm muscles tense; then relax as you breathe out. Repeat with the other hand.
• Arms – bend an elbow and tense all the muscles in the arm for a few seconds as you breathe in; then relax as you breathe out. Repeat the same with the other arm.
• Shoulders – raise your shoulders as high as you can as you breathe in; then relax as you breathe out.
• Neck – press your head back as hard as is comfortable and roll it slowly from side to side; then relax.