Frustrated
High-School Student Is
On Cusp Of Losing It
Dear Harlan,
I have been going to high school for two years now, but I
don't think I will be able to put myself through another.
It's not the work or the getting up early that bothers me,
it's the people - the ignorant, selfish people. Every day,
I go to school and have to deal with and interact with these
apes. At first it was just like a little mosquito bite on
the back of my neck, but the more I went, the more the anger
built. Now it is like a festering wound in my side, slowly
bleeding me to death. Lately I've been having violent urges
and thoughts toward students, teachers and even cops. I'm
afraid I might crack and hurt someone. What should I do?
Losing It
Dear Losing It,
You need to release this anger and turn the valve, but you
need to release it by turning it the right way.
The wrong way would be letting anger control you and doing
something that will ultimately hurt you and prove to everyone
else that they were right. Turning the valve the right way
means turning away from the selfish and ignorant people and
focusing on yourself. Do yourself a favor and turn the valve
the right way - turn to the people who can help you: an adult
you trust, a teacher, a religious leader, a friend's parent,
a coach, a therapist, a mentor at an after-school program,
etc. The faster you turn the right way, the sooner the boiling-hot
anger will cool and you'll begin to see the ignorant, selfish
people for what they truly are - the saddest people, who use
words and actions to control the world and others in an attempt
to run from their own insecurities and pain.
