#imjoansmith

The Doctor froze. She knew that feeling. The feeling of contentment, like she wasn't alone anymore. This had to be a joke. But she felt it, and she couldn't understand how she hadn't before now. She should've been able to track this strange woman down, no matter where she was in the universe. The Doctor was...shocked.

imnotthebeast

thegrimwoodgirls

Arrived in Oz

Edward bit on his sandwich.  More and more people were just showing up these days.  And now two more showed up in the middle of his lunch break.  Annoying.  "Muh wull"  He said his mouth full of food still.

This is a legitimate fear and one you shouldn't brush over but there are some solutions to ease your mind. 

First off, yes there is drugs and alcohol in high school as well as college and anyone who says there isn't is likely lying. However, it isn't as big as you may think. You need to surround yourself around people who are clean and sober now so when you get to high school it isn't something you're constantly around. There are others out there who don't want to do either of those things and you can get through high school without ever being pressured into it. Don't hang around people who do it if you know you have addiction in your family. Avoid them. They honestly aren't worth your time. I know that may mean ending friendships but if they can't respect your decision to remain clean and sober, what sort of friends are they really? Certainly not ones you want to have around in my mind. 

You should join clubs and activities that will keep you out of trouble and therefore, clean and sober. If you're far too busy doing tons of activities there truly isn't any free time to be indulging in such things. Don't join groups you know will have people indulging in those activities. You want to avoid it as much as possible. If you find yourself in a group that is doing drugs and alcohol, there is no shame in saying your goodbyes and finding something else you're comfortable with. Lean on adults for support and don't be afraid to ask for advice from them if you hit a situation where you feel pressured.

College is a bit different. There are those "party schools" out there. It makes it harder to avoid it but joining something like a sorority where one of their rules is to be clean and sober, than you lessen your risk of encountering it. Again, join clubs to fill your time. Also, college is honestly far more labour intensive than high school. You'll find that the work load is immense and if you are fully focused on school, you'll likely be to busy to "party." 

I'm not saying you can't have fun either. You can still have loads of fun but in a way that is healthy rather than destructive behaviour. There are plenty of things like sports, singing, going to the cinema, parks, etc you can do that are fun and doesn't involve those substances. You'll be amazed how many clubs there are in school that are both fun and don't involve those substances. Find one and stick to it. 

As far as stress goes, that's a whole different issue. There are family support groups out there for families that deal with a loved one having cancer. You should look into it. It may help you with that struggle.

Your sister's depression can get overwhelming I imagine but that is something she personally has to get through. You can be her support but don't overwhelm yourself. You're only one person. Give her advice on how to manage her depression like therapy, groups, and medication. Tell her you're there for her but don't put all the weight of making sure she is happy on yourself. That's not your job.

When you feel stressed out about things don't be afraid to just step away and take some time to relax. Do things that relax you personally. Talk to people as well. It helps to get your emotions out so you aren't feeling so stressed. Write down what is making you so stressed and figure out solutions to fix this. Don't put yourself into situations you know will stress you out or make you do things you don't want to do. It's important that you're happy and healthy yourself.