Feeling crap (or when life sucks)

Feeling crap (or when life sucks)

Most people experience times when they feel crap. This can mean different things for different people. Feeling crap might include feeling sad, angry, stressed, or fed up. It might also be a sense of not feeling like yourself or feeling physically sick. There can be lots of understandable reasons for feeling crap every now and then and it doesn't have to mean that you have depression.

Why you might be feeling crap

Sometimes it is difficult to work out why you are feeling crap. Identifying the things that are contributing to the feeling might help you to work out how to deal with it. Remember, it's just a feeling and is likely to pass.

Some reasons you may be feeling crap might be that:

• you have experienced one or several big or small stressful events or tough times 
• people around you are experiencing tough times - it is not uncommon for other people's tough times to influence how you're feeling, and this may be because they are people you care about and it is hard to see them unhappy, or because the way they are coping with their tough times means that they are difficult to be around.  

Not being able to identify the reason for how you are feeling is not uncommon either.

 

Factors that might contribute to feeling crap include:

Psychological factors

• Stress or anxiety - stress can come from many different sources, eg exams, parents, teachers, or your own expectations, pressures at school, work or home
• Grief or loss - the death of a loved one, or the end of a relationship or friendship
• Depression and other mental health problems.

Social factors

• Family problems - parents getting a divorce or fighting, step-family issues
• Problems at school, college or work - bullying, dealing with expectations/pressures
• Relationship or friendship problems - breaking up with someone or fighting
• Moving into a new house
• Starting at a new school or job
• Being a carer or living with someone with a mental or physical illness
• Feeling bored or unstimulated, eg in the school holidays.

Physical factors

Physical or biological factors might also influence your feelings and reactions, and how you think about things and yourself. Physical factors might include:

• not eating well
• not getting enough exercise
• not getting enough sleep
• drugs or alcohol
• illness - being sick, or fighting off illness, can make you feel run down and unwell
• chronic illness or other medical conditions
• hormonal changes in females during your menstrual cycle can make you feel crap - this may happen a few days before you get your period and you may not make the connection immediately.

What to do when you're feeling crap

When you feel crap, you might feel the urge to lash out at someone or something, even if they had nothing to do with how you're feeling.  Here are some ideas that might stop you from lashing out and to get to a happier place.

 

Get informed

Once you work out what might be causing you to feel crap, you can do something about it. On the Reach Out site, you'll find lots of info on different issues, including Depression, Family and friends, and Relationships You'll also find suggestions on how to manage stuff and on Getting help.

 

Talk to someone

Talking to someone you feel comfortable with, such as a friend, parent or counsellor, can be a great way of expressing your feelings. These people are also well placed to help you identify why you are feeling crap and to help you work out strategies you might use for dealing with it.

 

Get some head space/chill out/relax

Sometimes getting some head space and a change of scenery can be helpful. This might include going for a walk, listening to your favourite music, reading a book, or going to the movies - whatever works for you.

 

Express your feelings

Writing down your feelings, or keeping a journal, can be a great way of understanding what you are feeling about a particular situation. It can also help you think about alternative solutions to problems.

There are other ways you may consider expressing your feelings that won't cause bodily damage to yourself or another person. Try yelling or crying into a pillow, dancing around the room to loud music, or punching a pillow.

 

Look after yourself

Feeling crap may be your body telling you it needs to take time out, and pushing yourself might just make things worse. Take time out to spoil yourself by doing something that you usually enjoy. Even though you might not feel like it, exercising and eating well can help. Getting plenty of sleep can also help.

Exercise helps stimulate hormones, such as endorphins, which help you feel better about yourself and your life. If you haven't done a lot of exercise before, it might be a good idea to start doing something small a couple of times each week, such as a 15 minute walk or two or three laps of a pool. Visiting your GP for a general check up can be a way of making sure there isn't any physical problem.

 

Get creative!

Find things to do to distract yourself from feeling crap and to get you thinking creatively. This can be chatting to friends on Bebo, Facebook, or the phone, going for a walk, or playing a game. Even though you might not feel like it at first, it might be enough to shift your mood.

 

Avoid drugs and alcohol

Try not to use alcohol or other drugs (including lots of caffeine or other energy boosting drinks), in the hope that you'll feel better. The feeling is usually temporary and the after-effects often make you feel worse.

More Information

On the Reach Out site you'll find lots of information about a range of issues. Have a look at the other fact sheets, and the Related links listed on the left hand side.