[Everglow.]

Hey Scout,

It sounds like there's lots going on for you right now, and it's okay to feel down, upset and even defeated sometimes. I definitely share some of the feelings you have, and I know it's hard to reason with your own mind at times.

Having fall outs with friends is always hard. I am sure that you're not making it worse deliberately, so maybe you can try talking to your friend to let them know you're trying, but that you're struggling to word things right/get it right. Everyone is human and that means sometimes we do get it wrong, and that's okay. For me, I find that taking myself out of the situation is useful, and give me time to think through what I want to say without it being spur of the moment. Maybe you could write your friend a letter or a text message, which you can edit and re-read until you're happy with. That way, you can say everything you need to, without the pressure of the moment making it worse.

It's definitely not true that anybody would be better without you, especially not your dog! Dogs are hard to train sometimes, and there's always times when they test your patience! But dogs are mans best friend for a reason, and your dog would have nobody putting in the hours like you if you weren't around. If your dog is running off on walks, it's definitely worth considering doing dog walks on lead only for a while. I would suggest working on heel training so your dog walks with you rather than against you. You could try gradually easing off-lead again by using a longline, that way you still have control even if your dog decides to bolt! It's always hard because dogs don't speak our language, and have impulses we don't understand sometimes. But you're doing a great job, so cut yourself some slack. You deserve to be told you're doing okay.

I understand that losing your temper at work isn't ideal, but usually outbursts like these are our body's way of telling us we need a break. It sounds like you have a lot of emotion right now, and you're just reaching your threshold. That's okay, and there are ways to channel this better. I find music is useful, so maybe if you feel like you're at your limit, stick in some headphones and blast some music. You could also go on a long walk to clear your head, write down your feelings, play some games, call a friend/relative you trust. If these aren't what works for you, don't worry. There's tonnes of distractions you can find here, and something may work better for you.

You're doing your best and that's all anybody can expect from anybody. I know it's hard, but take it a day at a time and you can work through this. Don't be afraid to ask for help and talk to people when you're not doing your best. You've got this.