How to avoid falling into a comparison trap after GCSE results day

When GCSE results day arrives, it’s easy for young people to fall into the trap of comparing themselves with their peers, particularly after months of exams, anticipation and uncertainty.Kemi Omijeh, a BACP-registered child and adolescent therapist, says that while comparing ourselves to others is only human, dwelling on these thoughts can have a negative impact on our wellbeing.“Comparison really feeds into our internal dialogue, so when I work with young people and talk about self-esteem I often ask them to say their internal dialogue out loud,” says Omijeh.“They often use comparison language, such as ‘I didn’t get the same results as Chloe’. They are often looking from the outside in, and don’t realise that actually that person’s journey was very different to their own.Stressed teen boy