Failed Exams: How to Cope With Thoughts of Not Wanting to Live
Failing an exam or missing expected marks can bring grief, shame, jealousy, and thoughts of not wanting to live. This page explains how to get through the next few hours safely, calm an emotional crisis, and find help in Pakistan.
I failed to get the marks I expected and feel heartbroken, jealous of my friends, and unable to stop crying. I feel so overwhelmed that I want to sleep forever and not feel anything—how can I cope?
That result can feel like a door has slammed shut, and jealousy toward friends does not make you a bad person — it often comes from hurt, shame, and fear about what people will say. Crying is your body releasing a shock, but wanting to “sleep forever” tells me this is too heavy to handle alone tonight. Stay with another person now, even if you only say, “I don’t feel safe being by myself.”
Stay safe through tonight
If you might harm yourself, have a plan, or cannot promise to stay safe, move away from medicines, weapons, or anything else you could use, and ask someone to stay beside you. Go with a trusted person to the nearest emergency department if you may act on those thoughts. If you can, tell me plainly: are you thinking of harming yourself tonight?
Slow the crying wave
- Put both feet on the floor, name five things you can see, and breathe out more slowly than you breathe in.
- Sip water or wash your face with cool water; do not worry about stopping the tears immediately.
- Ask one person to sit with you and say, “I need company tonight, not advice.”
- Avoid social media, result groups, and big decisions until you have slept and eaten.
Decide what comes next
When the first wave passes, separate this result from your worth. Jealousy shows that you are hurting; it does not prove you wish your friends badly, and muting result posts for a few days may help. Later, look at one practical option at a time, such as remarking, an appeal, another subject, a gap year, or a different route.
You do not owe relatives a full explanation tonight — “The result was not as expected, and I will discuss my plan later” is enough. For now, do not solve your whole future; stay beside someone and get through the next ten minutes safely.
Names and cities shown here are examples. Every question is published anonymously — we never ask for, store or show the name, city or contact details of the person who wrote it.
You don't have to work this out from an article. We're free, private, and here right now — in English, Urdu or Roman Urdu. No signup, no waiting, no judgement.
More on Crisis support
Other questions people asked about the same thing, answered the same way.
Book with our professionals
Private one-to-one sessions with qualified psychologists and psychiatrists. We charge you nothing — the fee is the professional's own.
Aroosha Hashmi
Counselling Psychologist · Islamabad · online
Rs 5,000 / 45 min
Rohat Fatima
Clinical Psychologist · Mirpur · online
Dr Kamran Asghar Shaikh
Psychiatrist · Letterkenny · online
EUR 25 / 30 min

