I don't want to be jealous of her but I am. What can I do?

Ana

Dear Ana,

Thanks for your honesty. Jealousy is a normal human emotion and most people go through it at some stage in their life.

Jealousy normally stems from insecurity and low self worth.

Low self-esteem can make you feel like you are not worth as much as other people, or not as talented or good as your friends.

It can make you believe that everyone else is better than you.

If jealousy isn't dealt with, it can create anger, fear, loneliness and, most of all, will lead you to have unclear thinking.

When you have unclear thinking your mind starts to make up a lot of things that aren't true.

I would encourage you to start by building up your self-esteem.

Write a list of all the things that make you jealous and, next to that list, write down all the things you like about yourself.

Every time you have a jealous thought, replace that thought by saying one of your good qualities.

Remember, we all have different talents and characteristics. No one is the same. Start to focus on your talents and character traits and not on others.

Dear Jaime,

I'm unhappy with my weight. I have always been a very heavy girl and now that I'm growing older, I'm also growing bigger. I'm embarrassed at school when it comes to doing physical sports because I'm not good at them. I don't want to be the biggest in my class, but I am. How do I deal with this?

Ro

Dear Ro,

Thanks for your e-mail. Everyone in the world has a different body shape, so the first thing you need to do is not compare your body with anyone else in your class.

We are all unique and the most important thing is that you start feeling good about yourself.

I would encourage you to talk to your parents about how you are feeling.

They may be able to take you to a doctor or a nutritionist who can help you make up a food and exercise plan that will work for your body type.

Like I said, everyone is different so sport and food will have a different impact on each person's body.

Exercise is very good for a teenager as it helps you get rid of stress.

If you can go for a walk after school or spend some time at a gym, this will help you feel good about yourself.

It will also help you to feel like you are getting fit.

Maybe find a friend who can be an exercise buddy so you have someone to talk to while going for a walk.

The key is to start to feel good about yourself again.

Good luck.