Most sore throats will go away on their own after a few days, but if your sore throat is severe or if it lasts more than seven days, you should see a doctor. A sore throat with pus pockets may also indicate that you have a more serious condition such as tonsillitis or strep throat. Monitor your symptoms and if you experience any of the following symptoms, see a doctor immediately: Absence of cold or flu symptoms Difficulty swallowing or breathing Fever over 101 F (38.3 C) Swollen tonsils Swollen lymph nodes (in your neck) Bright red throat or dark red spots White or yellow film or spots in your throat Make an appointment with your doctor if your condition lingers, worsens, or is severe. Your doctor can perform a simple culture of the infection in your throat to determine if it is bacterial or viral. When you go to see your doctor, make sure that you share all of the other symptoms that you have been having to help your doctor make the best diagnosis possible. Antibiotics are not useful if the pus pockets in your throat are caused by a viral infection, but they can be helpful if the pus pockets are caused by a bacterial infection, which is typically caused by Group A strep. When pus pockets are caused by a bacteria, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics such as erythromycin or amoxicillin. Your doctor will confirm if you have strep throat by doing a rapid test or throat culture. Follow your doctor's instructions and take the full cycle of antibiotics that your doctor prescribes. Having your tonsils surgically removed may help stop recurring episodes of strep throat. If the pus pockets in your throat are affecting the tonsils, and if the infection is severe, or reoccurring too often, surgical intervention may be required. You may be eligible for a tonsillectomy if you've had 7 or more confirmed cases of strep in the past year, at least 5 episodes of strep each of the past 2 years, or 3 documented cases of strep per year for the past 3 years. A tonsillectomy is a relatively simple procedure, but an abscess around the tonsils may also be treated by a simpler surgery to drain the abscess. You will need to discuss your options with your doctor to determine the best course of action for your situation.

Summary: Determine if you need to see a doctor. Visit your doctor if your condition is severe or doesn't improve. Get a prescription for antibiotics if necessary. Discuss a tonsillectomy with your doctor.

Are you hiding them from just one friend? Other friends? Both? Everyone? This is going to determine how you proceed and to what degree you must hide your feelings. Hiding your feelings from everyone works only if the feelings are temporary and not likely to affect other aspects of your life. For instance, if you are angry at your parents for grounding you, but you know that you will get over it soon, you can choose to ignore and hide those feelings from everyone. But if you are angry at your parents for abusing you, this is not something you are likely to overcome without telling someone in authority, discussing it with friends, and eventually confronting your parents about it (when you are older, assuming you want to maintain a relationship with them). It is often helpful if you have a trusted friend you can confide in. This person may be able to help you sort through your complex emotions and understand your options. Someone who has no connection to the person you have feelings for is ideal. Sometimes, the healthiest choice for you is to express your feelings and deal with the fallout. Often, containing the way you feel causes those feelings to grow instead of recede, and eventually you have to let them out. Tell your friend if you have romantic feelings for them, if those feelings are making it difficult for you to be a good and supportive friend. Your friend has the right to know and if you have a strong enough friendship, you can work through the way you are feeling together. Most often, feelings of hurt or betrayal at the hands of someone you love should be dealt with. If someone has caused you pain, you deserve to let them know and give them the chance to make it right. If they care about you, they would want to know that you are hurting. If they don't care about you, then you deserve to know that, too, so that you can move on with your life. Containing or hiding your feelings is not the best answer if your feelings are an indication that you need to seek help. In those rare cases, it's important to recognize that your feelings are a symptom of something else. If you have an urge to hurt yourself or others, seek help immediately. Self-harm and/or violent tendencies can signal underlying disorders and you don't have to live like that! If you're in the United States, call 911 or the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or search online for your country's resources. If your feelings are inappropriate or illegal-- for example, sexual feelings for minors or an overwhelming urge to use illegal drugs-- please seek help from a licensed counselor or psychologist. There are treatment plans available for you. If you don't have a mental health care provider, your general practitioner can give you a recommendation. If you have ongoing feelings of despair, sadness, or like life does not have the same meaning it used to have, you may be experiencing depression. Seek help from a licensed mental health care provider, who can help you with a personalized treatment plan. Ask your general practitioner for a recommendation.

Summary: Determine who you are trying to hide your feelings from. Understand that some feelings should not be contained. Know when your feelings are a warning sign of something deeper.

Demonstrate your commitment to the team by actively involving yourself in the work that goes on. Don't simply manage the team from afar; join the team members and lead them from the frontline. A healthy and involved work ethic is an important tool you can use to show your commitment, but keep in mind that there are also times when you need to take a step back and direct from the sidelines. Demonstrating your commitment is simply done by demonstrating your investment in the well-being of the team through your actions. Make the best decisions for your team at any given moment, regardless of the sort of work you'll end up doing individually as a result. Inspire your team by solving one major hurdle or other issue almost immediately. Acting so quickly will show how serious you are about your leadership role and may encourage the rest of the team to be equally serious. If you're coming into a previously established team, quickly identify a pre-existing problem and address it early on. When you're leading a team from the start of its creation, watch out for early signs of trouble and address the problems as they arise. You might be the leader of the team, but if you want the other team members to respect you, you'll need to show them respect through your words and actions first. This is especially important if you took the leadership role from someone else who still remains in the group. Avoid criticizing the previous leader's work in direct terms. Instead, correct past errors without pointing out where those errors originated. Perform the work properly and make the best possible decisions, even when doing so is an unpopular move. If you're too focused on trying to "play nice," you may start slacking on your responsibilities as the team leader. The rest of the team may actually lose confidence in you as a result. It's great to be a well-liked leader, of course, and becoming such a leader is encouraged when it is possible. The point is merely to focus on being trusted as a leader instead of focusing on being liked as a person.
Summary: Commit to the team on a personal level. Get something done as early as possible. Give respect to receive respect. Stop fixating on popularity.