Lately I haven't felt anything but anger and frustration from being in school, dealing with all the bullies at school and abusive teachers, then coming home and having to deal with my parents because of all the trouble the teachers put me through ... any advice?
- FB*

It sounds like you're in a situation where the pressure feels like it's coming from all sides. Having to deal with bullies at school can make it hard to focus on schoolwork — then parents and teachers might pressure you for not doing, or acting, your best. Maybe no one really gets what you're going through. But letting anger and frustration build can affect your mood and happiness. And that's not fair to you.

Your challenge is to deal with bullies and meet expectations at school and home — all without losing your cool. That's hard to do alone!

Start by letting someone who really gets you know what you're up against. Find someone who is on your side. It might be a friend, a teacher, a coach, or an advisor. Ask this person to just hear you out for a few minutes. Explain the stress you're facing. (Make sure a teacher, coach, counselor, or someone else at school knows about the bullies and how they affect you.) Talking things through calmly also can help you vent the frustration and anger.

When someone knows what you're going through, you can think of ways to deal with the situation together. Plan how you'll react to bullies and ways to steer clear of them.

Keep anger under control with physical activity. When you're feeling angry or frustrated, channel it by going for a run, working out in the gym, or shooting hoops on the basketball court.

Find a little time to relax and chill. No matter what kind of day you've had, make time to relax and laugh. Find a friend or two to hang out with — even if it's just for a few minutes after school.

Taking these steps can help you override stress before it gets to be too much. The idea is to deal with the situation so stress doesn't pile up and affect your mood and happiness. Keep your cool, do your best, reach out to positive people — and don't let bullies ruin your day.

Reviewed by: D'Arcy Lyness, PhD
Date reviewed: April 2012

*Names have been changed to protect user privacy.