If it still seems like he likes you, talk about it. Take the first step yourself. Ask him if he has a crush on you, and if he says yes, say you don't feel the same way. Be clear but polite. Think about how you're going to do it beforehand, consider his reaction and how you're going to leave the conversation, have someone you trust nearby to step in if things start going badly. I don't know how your TBI or other factors will affect this, so maybe don't take my advice word-for-word.

I do know what it's like to have someone you hate think you're friends, though. There's this one guy at my school, and we share a lot of interests and things, but somehow he still manages to be completely appalling. I try to avoid him as much as possible and will even be a little rude or act differently simply to separate us, but occasionally I'll acknowledge that I got a reference or that he exists, and it's most likely because of this that he thinks we're friends. He's said as much, and I was lost for words even when he presented an opportunity to contradict him. If he were to ask me out... *shudders* I would probably tell him no, make an excuse, and then admit that I don't like him (though I might add a "like that" if I'm feeling particularly nervous or pitying). Then I'd walk away and go back to avoiding him.

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I have slightly another problem. There's a guy who is REALLY introverted like me but he opens up a little when he talks to me and smiles really big when I walk up, no to mention he ignores all other girls in the room an he watches me a lot. My friend went ballistic about this and is convinced that he has a crush on me. What should I do? I don't want to like him until I'm a hundred percent sure he likes me back, but I don't want him to... This is going to sound really sappy... I don't want him to be crushed by my reluctance to show that I would be willing to be his S.O. Just FYI I have rejected a guy before, this isn't my first ball game...

Don’t feel like you need to keep anything a secret. It shouldn’t change their judgment on you as a human being. But also, don’t feel subjected to tell them anything. These people are with you now, sure, but in 5-10 years from now you’ll have forgotten they’d even existed in the first place. But you should tell the people you trust, it will help ease some of your stress. Maybe they’ll help too, if telling your classmates is really what you want. But please, don’t feel subjected to tell anyone. It’s your decision, and don’t let anyone influence it. And don’t be afraid of what they will think of you if you do tell them. It’s not their right to know in the first place, (unless you actually really do want them to) and if they can’t like you for who you are then they can go die in a very dark hole.

But, I also do know what it’s like keeping secrets, and having the ones who do know pitty you. I myself am very independent, and get defensive when people do things for me, like I can’t do it myself. I’ve endured more pain then they couldn’t even probably imagine, I can do whatever I want, and so can you. Don’t let what others think of you stop you from being yourself. Whether you like it or not your TBI will forever be a part of you, and the sooner you can accept it the sooner you can learn from it. Trama can teach you more about yourself then you ever thought, just embrace it.  

Now for your guy problem. He seems... annoying. If he’s a nice guy and you know it, then find ways to subtly ask him to find out if he really does have a crush on you, and if he asks you if you like him and you say no and he plays it off, leave it, he’ll probably never ask you again. But he might, and just tell him to leave you alone or you’ll beat him up. But if he’s ANYTHING like a creepy stalker, if he follows you around and does such other inappropriate stuff, feel free to completely loose it on him. But don’t do it alone! Have friends to back you up. Or if it’s via text, then, well, still have friends to back you up.

Well I think it’s about time to come clean about something, just Incase you don’t take me seriously. I am a survivor too, just not of physical trauma.. I have CPTSD. For those of you who don’t know, it stands for Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and it’s something that I will deal with for the rest of my life. But I don’t let it stop me, and just recently I’ve discovered that rather then pushing it down, I should be embracing it and learning from it. It helps to talk about it, my social struggles and family struggles along with the trauma itself. If you don’t want to see a therapist, there are online hotspots to talk about it. And if push comes to shove, you can always come here. We care about you, and will help you with anything life throws at you. <3

and with that comes Some advice. Always watch your back in this crazy messed up world. The people who want you to be happy are the ones who actually care about you, and don’t think for a second that you have to deal with anyone less. If you ever feel threatened in anyway, don’t be afraid to call the police.

... I completely understand, my situation is almost exactly the same, Even the TBI (It's probably not exactly the same but maybe I can help). Okay so over the summer I really hoped that the guy that stalked me like that would get over it, but if he didn't I made up a plan with my friend to call me and then I would act like I had to go to some sort of meeting/emergency. As far as the TBI goes just know that not everyone will look down on you because of it. Like that one other new girl, I am sure that there are more kids that won't judge you like her. I was able to find a couple that I could trust when life is a mess. If not we are here for you, anonymous or not.

If someone told me they had had a TBI, I don't think I would judge them. I would kinda be like, "Sorry, that must suck" because it sounds pretty hard to have one, but I wouldn't like them any less or look down on them. Hope that helps.

And for your 2nd problem, maybe try the famous words of Nick Geiger from The Penderwicks: "I'm sure you're a nice person, but I'm not interested in developing a relationship with you." It doesn't really sound that special, but it works in the book! It is fiction, though. 

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Help!

I'm having depressing thoughts. I don’t know what to do. Nobody loves me, my older siblings calls me stupid on a daily basis and I don’t have anybody to talk to about my problems. I’m scared and I feel alone. I’m always compared to my older sibling, and I always come up as the lesser...I pretend to happy but I’m not, not even close. I don’t trust anybody in my life enough to talk to them. I barely have any friends.

All of us here care about what happens to you. It's really important to tell someone about how you're feeling: your favorite teacher, a school counselor, or your parents (even just one parent!), another relative, someone at church, or a neighbor are all people in your life who you can try talking to. -- Admin