Procrastinators Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from chronic procrastination.
New to PA and I need help! I am in trouble =/
Hey guys.
As people would say "crazy in debt" I am basically in a situation like that. I am a High School senior and unlike most high schools we have crazy amount of work. It wouldn't actually be that bad if I had time managed and started my work ahead of time but I procrastinated so hard that I am basically what people would say "in debt"
I owe teachers soo many assignments its not even funny. I there is a little over a week until the marking period is over and when i have to have all my stuff in. I keep telling mysel that I can do it and complete all my assignments but either I am too tired and just give up and or I start working on it and realize how in over my head I am and then give up because I am so overwhelmed.
As a result of this, I've skipped many days of schools (I am at the limit, I am afraid that if I miss any more days I'll get in serious trouble with the school) - I dont want to get my parents in trouble because this isnt their fault. It is mine, I should be more responsible and I know I am better than this but I am in such a rut that I just lose all hope.
Its not as easy as just telling me just to go to class because I am avoiding all my teachers. My god =( the situation is soo bad. I feel so bad for my parents because they are so proud of me. I got into all the colleges that I heard back from and they think that I am working really hard. If they find out that I was skipping school and missing assignments it would just destroy them. They would be so dissapointed in me and they would loose their trust in me for a very long time. Im finally in a good place with my parents and I dont want to ruin the relationship we have now. If they found out I would lose my car and my driving rights, my job (i keep teIlling them that I can handle both school and work -which i probably can- but screwed up and now im in over my head)
I am so overwhelmed and Im depressed but I just need to get out of my current situation and then i'll be okay.
and I think to myself. Once i get out of this situation, i will learn from this mistake and never let a situation get this bad. but then im worried - what if I ever "relapse" and find myself in a similar situation but worse!?!
I've always been a procrastinator. I put off my work until the last minute but back then i was still able to get my work done. Now I can't even get it done! AH HELP!
I know compared to other people my situation doesnt seem that bad but I am so stressed by this. I have lost all confidence. All my peers at school have a running joke that I am never in school, that i must have moved or something. and on the days that i return back to school i feel so unconfident and self concious.
PLEASE HELP! I AM SO DESPERATE!
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(VnC)
Try switching to coffee and donuts, it may help.
haha. vodka n caviar is the
haha. vodka n caviar is the name of a nailpolish color by opi
no i do not strictly diet on vodka and caviar...
i wish...
(VnC)
Thanks, at least you can still chuckle, good sign. Keep coming back and welcome.
Welcome Vodka
You are in the right place! And you may not want to hear this, but I suggest you confess your problem to your teachers and parents right now. Trust me, your teachers have heard it all before, and your parents want the best for you. I realize you would like to get yourself out of trouble on your own, in secret, and never have to tell anyone that you got yourself in so deep. But it would really be in your best interest to tell all and get help. Your parents may say that you need to stop working until you get your schoolwork back on track, and I would probably agree with them, but then I am a parent :)
Good luck!
Be confident. Stay focused. One thing at a time.
hi vodkaNcaviar
I echo what the other people said. This is the place to come to work on that problem. I had it when i was in h.s. and now, 25 years later i still have it. But fortunately i can manage it most of the time now before it gets all backed up.
But the emotions we attach to it, the guilt, hopelessness, overwhelmed feeling, all that makes it worse. That's why, for me, the "pick one thing and do it" technique works. It's how i can manage. Then, one thing after another, things get done.
Many people have great stories and techniques to share here.
The most popular tools here are the Daily Check-ins at http://procrastinators-anonymous.org/forum/6 (you can see today's on the right sidebar), and chat at http://procrastinators-anonymous.org/chatbox which is also in a tab at the top.
Use the tools however they work for you. Check-in is the more permanent, concrete to do list - accountability place to start your day and refer back to and keep yourself on goal.
The chat is an ongoing motivational tool to help you stick to your check in. It's also a place to "talk yourself thru things." And, while working, ppl can hear chat beeps going off. we call that "beeps of solidarity" because it's comforting to know that we're all in this together, that people are in chat working thru their issues just like you, even if you're not reading the actual posts.
more info on the mechanics of checking in is at url: http://procrastinators-anonymous.org/node/2471
fall down seven times, get up eight - japanese proverb
Welcome!
I now exactly how you feel. Last year when I procrastinated on my bachelor thesis, I used to avoid my thesis supervisor. It was like a cartoon, really. I used to hide behind trees when I saw him on campus, sneak through the back door, etc.
... And he is a very nice person!
Just try to take it one step at a time... Choose the most important task, focus on it, forget all the other tasks. Then do another one. It keeps you from freaking out.
Ha! I thought I was the only cartoon around to do this!
I used to hide behind bushes at school too to not confront my teachers. As I still have one big unsolved issue with school, I can't feel confident enough to walk carefree at the building. What would happen if I face my teacher to whom I owe one -a single one- paper work to finish my social service? I should have given it to her 2 years ago! I always end up thinking: "I will give her a hell of a paperwork, then she will forgive me and I will have my social service done". But writing the hell of a paperwork seems an infinite labrynth I can't dig any longer.
So I hide behind bushes as well!
Thanks for sharing, Fermiona.
Fear is only a thought and as a thought you can ignore it.
Calm down, you can do it!
OK, I'm actually new to PA, too. And I totally understand you. All this sounds so familiar to me! Those peers' jokes are so humiliating and you can't say anything against it... :( This must be awful.
I'm not sure if I help you by this message but.. You should know that you're NOT a bad person. You want to change and not to dissappoint your parents and that means a lot. The fact that you've written this is already a big step.
If the number of assignments is so bad, maybe you need to prioritize these things. You must be freaking out just starting to think about it. So, try this. Imagine, that it's not actually you. You met a person who has all these problems, a complete stranger. He's desperate, he wants to do something with all that ,but he doesn't know how and what to do first. And he's asking you for advice. So you can think about it staying cool as it's all about another person. It helps me, maybe it will help you :)
Don't lose all hope, you can do this! :)
Phoebe
Thanks, Phoebe!
Thanks for mentioning the technique of prioritizing as if the things to do were another person's. I might try that!
You're welcome :)
I'll be glad if you find this useful :)
Phoebe