There are lots of things you can do to help yourself feel better.

Most importantly, keep doing things you like to do. Try to keep up with your regular activities, and don’t isolate yourself.

• See your friends.
• Read books.
• Listen to music.
• Play with your dog or cat.
• Take long walks.

It's not just OK to have some fun during hard times. It's very important!

Make sure that you take time for yourself every day! It's easy to forget to do nice things for yourself when life gets stressful.  So remember that stressful times are when you need to care for yourself the most.

Here are some other suggestions:

Talk about it

One of the best things you can do for yourself is to talk. Talking about your feelings—not just once, but often—almost always makes you feel better. It releases tension and can help you put things into perspective so they don't feel so overwhelming.

• Tell your parents how you feel. If they’re too upset to be helpful, try again another time. Talk to someone else in the meantime.
• If you have brothers or sisters, talk to them. Since they're going through the same thing, they'll probably understand how you are feeling.
• Talk to a close friend, especially someone whose parents have split up.
• Talk to a relative - like an aunt or uncle -or another adult you know and trust, like the parent of a close friend.
• Sometimes talking to someone who doesn't know your family very well—like a teacher or school counselor—can be very helpful because they are less involved.

Write about it

Try writing about your feelings in a journal or diary. You can write as often as you want and say whatever you want to say. Over time, you will be able to see your progress as you adjust to the changes and challenges.

It's OK to cry

Crying can make you feel better because it lets the feelings out instead of keeping them bottled up inside. But don't worry; if you don't feel like crying, that's OK too.

Exercise

Be active! Exercise is a great way to let off steam. And being fit physically can help you feel better emotionally.

• Walk, run, bike, skate, or swim.
• Play basketball, soccer, baseball, hockey, or another game you like.

Do something creative

• Write a story or poetry.
• Write a song.
• Draw, sculpt, or paint.
• Dance!

Think positive

Things will get better! It’s hard at first, but you will get through it. Others survive, and you will too. You might even find that there are ways your life is better than before.