Don't underestimate the value of Doing Nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can't hear, and not bothering. ~Pooh's Little Instruction Book, inspired by A.A. Milne

So the HSC is drawing closer, the pressures on and everyone is stressing. Stress isn't necessarily a bad thing, but sometimes it does get too much. Alot of my friends are starting to break down around me and have conflict with each other and their family's, which when you think about it those people are there to help you... not to get there heads bitten off.
These here are some of the things i have learnt over my life and through talking with some other wise cookies at school.
If you don't like confrontation or it just doesn't go well for you, write a letter explaining your side of the situation, how you feel about it, and how you feel it should be resolved. This takes the face to face part out of it, so there is no worry of loosing your cool, or getting into an argument. It also avoids unnecessary things being said.

Stress makes your body tense and slips you into a rut, physical activity releases endorphins, the bodies happy drugs, and helps to release that tension, if you don't like the concept of exercise, or just don't want to be seen in public, pump some of your favourite tunes in your room and dance round like a total spastic. I promise you will feel a million bucks afterwards, even if someone does walk in, you'll have a good laugh.

Self esteem taken a knock? Grab your favourite outfit and your girls and go have fun. If you feel comfortable and confident, you'll look confident, and confidence = beauty.

Anger is the easiest emotion to physically release, it is also the easiest emotion to turn too, so turn that angst into anger and let it out on something constructive, like a wardrobe clean out or a boxing bag, not your little brother. have something that you like to do that you can easily go to to release that anger, without breaking anything or anyone.

And last but not least, talk to your mum, chances are she knows how you feel, and nobody know how to make things right like a mum does.