Failing Classes

Hey --
Warning this may turn into a bit of a long post.

I am so depressed and anxious it is affecting my school. I am passing one class, Spanish. All of my other classes I am passing but only because all we have to do is sit and listen, so there is no way to fail unless you do not show up. I have a D- in Math, my worst class, because I don't do the work. I don't understand some of it. But I'm too scared/anxious to ask for help. I really should go see my math teacher during advisory, but I'm too anxious to ask. And as for my other classes, I'm passing but I'm not getting any of the material.
The first "General" here is my Spanish, and the second one is Algebra.



Since I'm only in 7th grade, it's not like any of this will go on my transcript for high school. Won't impact college. But I still need to be picking up the material.

I see the school social worker once a week. And she is helpful I guess. We have talked about auditing my math course, making it so I don't have to do any of the work. But I don't know if that is actually happening. An regardless, my mother is getting on my case about it. I just don't know what to do.

When I'm at school, I get really anxious. Being around people is hard. I can barely handle classes because of the people. I can't speak in class without an anxiety attack.

I just don't know what to do. Any suggestions?

Thanks for reading.
--Mae--

Hi Mae, I think you are underestimating your abilities. There's no way I would get those grades just by showing up! I sympathise fully with math because I have a total inability to grasp even the basics and it made school hell for me. I'm a heck of a lot older so we didn't have much help but I'm sure there must be extra help available to you if you can push yourself to ask. You might find that you wished you had asked earlier and it will help with the anxiety you feel now. Being around so many others is really hard when you are anxious and lack confidence. Can you think of some very small things you can do, just baby steps, to push yourself - even if it's just a smile at someone or a hi. Don't worry about the reaction but just think about the action and getting used to doing little things. You never know. Sometimes when we are very shy and anxious on the outside we might look angry or aloof. I had that many times when inside I'm just dying. It's hard for people to know how you feel if you keep yourself to yourself and it's hard to break the cycle. I would try to talk to a teacher first because maybe there is a class where there are others in the same situation. Try not to stress too much because you are doing amazing!

I"m not joking, we haven't had a single assignment the whole year. Just tests. And the tests I get help on for most subjects since the school became aware of my bad depression. I am great at math when I apply myself. I'm actually one of the few 7th graders that are taking Algebra this year.

There's definitely help I can get. I'm just way too anxious to ask for any of it. I don't really know what I can do to help my anxiety. Especially because if I make it any worse things are going to be really really bad when teachers call on me.

Sometimes it honestly feels like I should just give up because it would be the easiest.

Khan Academy can be helpful for math.

Maybe it's math anxiety you are facing against?

You can write it down, if talking is too much.
@Rockclimbinggirl, I used to learn economics on Khan Academy.

Can you text them? Is the anxiety about talking to them face to face?

Yes, I was going to suggest an email or text to let them know you suffer with anxiety. That might help you let them know. Your grades are mostly good (my parents would have killed for me to bring home that report card), but if you feel none of it is sticking, or you aren't really learning anything, maybe you can talk to a counselor. They might be able to guide you with your anxiety as well. Good luck!