Everybody worries. Grown-ups do it and kids do it, too. But what should you do about it? Whether your worries are big or small, you can take these 3 steps:
1.Try to figure out what you're worried about.
2. Think about ways to make the situation better.
3. Ask for help.
1. Figure it out: Sometimes, you will know exactly what youre worried about. Other times, you might not know exactly whats bugging you. Lets say youre worried about a teacher who seems mean. But maybe whats really bothering you is that youre having trouble with math. If you get some help with math, that teacher might seem just fine. Some. problems, like family problems, are big and have a lot of parts. That can make it tough to zero in on what the problem is or to pick one part of the problem to try to solve. But being able to focus on your problem or at least part of it is the first step to taking action. If youre having trouble figuring out what worries you, skip to Step 3 and get some help from a parent or another person you trust.
2. Think of ways to make it better: There is almost always something you can do to help you feel less worried. Sitting there worrying is no fun and it probably wont solve your problem. But switching to an action mode can help you feel more hopeful. Grades at school are often a top worry for kids.
If thats your concern, ask yourself these questions:
* Why are grades important? What do they mean to me?
* How do I prepare for class? Do I review my notes even when there isnt a test the next day?
* Do I have a good place to do my homework?
* Have I tried different ways of studying, such as rewriting notes, using flashcards, and working with a study friend? If your worry is about a fight you had with a friend, you might write down all the actions you could take from writing the friend a note to inviting him or her over for a visit. Should you apologize for whatever happened between the two of you? Once you have a list of possible actions, you can select the one you think is most likely to get your friendship back on track. But what if you cant think of anything to do to make your particular problem better? Then its time to jump to Step 3 (its the next step anyway) and ask someone for help. 3.Ask for help. Worrying can make you feel lonely. When youre worried, it. can help to find someone to talk to.
Sometimes people say, "Why should I bother? He/she cant do anything about it." But here are two reasons to give it a shot anyway: . * You dont know for sure that no one can help until you share your feelings and let the person try to help. * Just the act of telling someone whats bothering you can make you feel a little better. Afterward, you are no longer alone with your worries and whomever you told (parent, sister, brother, friend, counselor) is now is thinking about ways to help you.
A Final Word About Worry Did you know worry is not all bad? If you werent worried (at least a little) about that test, you might not study for it. But some kids worry so much that it keeps them from doing the stuff they need and want to do. If that sounds like you, you know what to do by now: Turn to good old Step 3 and ask someone for help. And very importantly, you have to remember Allaah as a Muslim in everything you do and ask for His help.
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited