topic Re: Unsure how to tackle depression and school and teachers in Depression

Unsure how to tackle depression and school and teachers

seawhiplash — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 11:56:02 GMT

Hi everyone!

Hope people are doing okay. I am currently finishing my last year of high school and was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. I have gotten special provisions (I got them this year) and am seeing professional help from psychologist and school counsellor.

Where do I start? I have been finding it hard to keep up with both school and my thoughts and my feelings for a long time and this year it has kind of spiralled. Long story short, I ended up accidentally telling one of my teachers that I had depression. I went to my teacher to ask about content covered in class and was asking if I was okay and I said "not good, sorry I haven't been participating in class conversations" and she said "its fine [something along these lines] you are probably tackling bigger things right now" and then she helped me with my content questions and then she asked how I am feeling and I just started breaking down because I have been very unstable. To be honest I do not really remember the rest of the conversation because I feel like my memory has gone out the window as my thoughts are taking up all my brain capacity but anyways I don't really know how to tackle it now, I feel like I made it awkward with my teacher now and or maybe she forgot about it (there are only a few people in my class but she teachers other subjects as well) and that is kind of re-consolidating my thoughts about how I am worthless and that I don't deserve to have care or even be depressed in the first place.

I have been trying to attend class and keep my grades up as exams are coming and I am doing quite content heavy subjects. I wanted to ask, if anyone is a teacher or knows about how to actually tackle both depression and school. I am finding it hard to actually be in class to be honest without feeling overwhelmed ( I know that sounds stupid but) or even be at school without being on verge to breakdown, I often zone out a lot and don't have friends to talk to about this stuff either. I have just been feeling very lonely but also empty but craving something to make me feel at least somewhat alive.

My psychologist said to possibly tell my teachers I might need mental breaks in class and create a signal with them that I need to go outside or something but I am afraid of the result of that conversation validating my depressive and um bad thoughts already or just breaking down again. Thoughts on this or maybe other suggestions?

Sorry for the long message and if you have made it thanks for reading! Wish everyone the best.

Re: Unsure how to tackle depression and school and teachers

LotusAfterRain — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 12:40:31 GMT

Hi Seawhiplash,

A warm welcome to the forum! I’m here to listen and support you🤗

Having anxiety and depression can be frustrating, especially with academic pressure on top of that. I am so proud of you for finding a psychologist and school counsellor for support and applying for Special Provision, which can really help take some of the burden off your shoulders.

It is not your fault that you feel overwhelmed or zone out so often. It sounds like you have been trying really hard to keep up with school while dealing with a lot emotionally, and that can be exhausting.

I think it’s okay to take a break when you need one. Your psychologist’s suggestion about having a signal with your teachers sounds like a good idea. You could explain that sometimes you may feel overwhelmed and need a few minutes outside the classroom. Your teachers may be more understanding than you expect, especially since they already know a little about what you have been going through.

You don’t have to push yourself to keep everything together all the time. Taking care of yourself is also important, especially with exams coming up. And please remember that needing support doesn’t mean you are weak or that you don’t deserve to be cared for.

You mentioned that “your thoughts are taking up all my brain capacity” and “bad thoughts”, if you feel comfortable to share, what kind of thoughts in your mind? And have you disclosed that to your psychologist and school counsellors?

Warm regards,

LotusAfterRain

Re: Unsure how to tackle depression and school and teachers

Moo_5 — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 06:11:56 GMT

Heyyyyy!
I completely understand what you’re going through, having finished school myself three years ago now. I was battling some pretty big mental health demons come end of high school and I really didn’t have any friends. Like you I was conscientious and motivated to make it to the end but some days that just wasn’t enough. It felt so much easier to hide away from the world and throw everything in. I had one teacher who understood my situation quite well (having experienced her own mental health concerns). My advice would be to find that one teacher you have a decent relationship with and lean on them for support. Your school counsellor may even be able to help you start that conversation.
high school feels very final and scary and like the whole world is relying on it but in all honesty it’s not. Your health and wellbeing is the most impottant thing and you are valid no matter what!

Re: Unsure how to tackle depression and school and teachers

seawhiplash — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 12:38:11 GMT

Hi LotusAfter Rain,

Thanks for taking the time out of your day to respond! 🙂 I have disclosed these bad thoughts to my counsellor and psychologist who has been doing some CBT work with me to try to counteract them and address them but I am still working on it day by day (I understand its a long process to reverse-engineer years off cognitive thinking patterns). I don't believe I will do anything bad particularly because I have been exposed to lots of my loved ones in the past engaging with it, so I have been in both the position of seeing someone struggling and being that person and I understand the pain of both which makes me feel both more guilty for being the one struggling and anxious if that makes sense. It is more like I just want to be in eternal slumber just to escape. My psychologist and I have briefly discussed about prescribing some antidepressants to aid this issue.

Idk, I feel very conflicted with my emotions and my life right now. I don't know if people care, because the main reason is why would they care? Strangely enough sometimes studying helps to distract me but some nights it gets to the point where I am just like a puddle on my bed and can't get up and feel paralysed. I feel like for me I have never really felt connected with others, whenever I try to reach out to a "friend" or a teacher or a guardian or even chatting to workers at mental health companies for young people it just doesn't go well, and I feel like I have kind of given up on the thought that people care about me because I don't even care about myself. I have tried to tell my family and my teachers that it is hard, it is really hard to live in my brain and they say it will "all end after exams just push until then", but whenever I try to tell them its not school its something in me I feel like there is something wrong with me and its been like this for so many years now they just think I am crazy or am being a teenager again. My psychologist is lovely and knowledgeable but a part of me feels like no one I am seeking support from truly cares and I am just isolated and a loser to think they ever will or can care for someone like me. I just don't know what to do. Sorry for ranting and thanks for taking the time to share your support. Hope you are doing okay yourself.

Re: Unsure how to tackle depression and school and teachers

seawhiplash — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 13:17:02 GMT

Hi Moo_5!

Thank you for being so compassionate and understanding with me, it inspires me that you were able to proceed with life's hardships even with your own struggles :).

To be honest, I don't think there is a teacher in my school who is interested enough or that I feel comfortable enough discussing my mental health issues about. So far, I think only my school counsellor, the teacher I accidentally told know about my diagnosis and maybe my math teacher who suspects something (just because he discussed what he could do with special provisions and asked if I am seeking a psychologist or something like that). I am not close with any of my teachers and none of them have reached out which I don't blame them for, they have their own worries as well. Not going to lie, sometimes I feel like the plague at school when interacting with my teachers or classmates because I am just not in the right headspace and they try to avoid me. In class, my teachers just let me be with my own thoughts, I have noticed they don't say hi to me even though they do so with the other students or check up on me (maybe because they are not so sure on how to deal with a student like me), but it is quite a sucky feeling because I feel like it is reinforcing the idea that I am not worth being cared for. I was also battling some inner demons when I was in primary school and tried reaching out to a teacher but they forgot about me a lot in a sense where she wrote cards for everyone but forgot about me and told me that I was not good at anything and when I went to the primary school counsellor she was there for first 10 minutes then left the rest of the appointment to get her morning tea and told me when I was leaving "sorry I was busy chatting to someone in the staff room that I forgot about you" which sucked and never followed up with me. So that makes it even more daunting of having to go through that whole cycle again.

A lot of this has made me feel like maybe I am crazy and being dramatic and what I am experiencing is not valid or that no one cares. I know high school is not the end, I think for me I just seek a lot of academic validation because I was never good at anything growing up (making my parents or people around me happy, communicating, making long-lasting friends, recreational activities or hobbies etc.) even grades in primary school I often would get Cs and Ds and be told that I can't do it and it wasn't until high school when I started being finally good at something which was working my butt off to get an A or B due to frustration. I just don't really know what to do at this point. I feel quite stuck. Thanks for replying and hope you are doing okay yourself.

Re: Unsure how to tackle depression and school and teachers

Moo_5 — Sun, 13 Sep 2026 10:31:57 GMT

I’m so sorry, that is absolutely awful what your school staff did to you. That makes total sense that you would feel abandoned and forgotten. I’m curious what your relationship is like with your parents if you don’t mind me asking? I know my parents took a long time to come around to my diagnosis and shift from a perspective of “what is wrong with you” to “ you’re going through a lot but your not alone”.

You’re a stranger but I’m super proud of you committing to your studies, I know just how many hours go into study and completing those super tedious assessments. It’s not an excuse but sometimes I feel like teachers get so caught up in lesson plans, students, grading etc that they forget to check up on students. I’m curious if maybe your teachers don’t have a lot of experience with mental health care and sensitivity and perhaps that’s why they’re being hesitant. Either way you do not need to be uncomfortable or ashamed for how you’re feeling because it is completely valid whether your teachers mention it or not.

how are you feeling about exams and your provisions put in place?

🫶🏻stay strong queen

Re: Unsure how to tackle depression and school and teachers

Psychdiaries2 — Sun, 13 Sep 2026 10:49:53 GMT

Hi there,

Thanks for reaching out and it takes a lot out of you to be struggling with your mental health and also go to school. I graduated not too long ago and I promise you, you're not alone. I also relate to the overwhelming feelings in class and being at school in general. It's not stupid, it can get overstimulating and exhausting. I wanted to encourage you to look after yourself in the lead up to exams. It's a busy period and it's important to also take a little time out of your day to do something just for you. I would always take breaks to listen to music and unwind a bit. I don't know if you have tried this already, but something that helped me when feeling overwhelmed (and I still do this) is take a few deep breaths and count them as I do it. And then try to focus on my work again has been helpful in re-focusing and calming down.

I'm glad you're getting the support you need now and you are always welcome to reach out here too. Good luck for your exams, it'll go by so fast and be so proud of yourself!

Hear from you again,

PsychDiaries

Re: Unsure how to tackle depression and school and teachers

LotusAfterRain — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 02:11:19 GMT

Thanks for replying!

I’m glad that your psychologist is working with you using a CBT approach. Keep me updated, and let me know whether you find this approach helpful.

Yesss, it makes sense that you’ve been in both positions.

It must be really frustrating to have been in the position of seeing someone struggle. Who was that person, and what happened? If you feel comfortable, you could share the story with your psychologist. You can also see this forum as a safe space to vent and express your emotions.

You are precious and deserving of help, so please don’t see yourself as a burden. Being ignored by a teacher can be really frustrating, especially when you were young and more sensitive at that age. Instead of being too dramatic, you probably have a strong self-conscious. If your teachers didn’t say “Hi” to you, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they disliked or ignored you. There could have been many other reasons, such as them genuinely not seeing you or simply being distracted.

You can try not to internalise these experiences or see them as a reflection of yourself. What happened doesn’t mean that there was anything wrong with you.

Warn regards,

LotusAfterRain