I know what everyone says:

"Just sit down and practice"
"Try setting a timer"
"Find the time of day that works for you (as long as it doesn't wake up your parents!)
"Listen to a recording of the music"

While these sentiments can be helpful advice for some, they don't help the musician who struggles to practice because of horrible self-doubt and perfectionism. The problem isn't from lack of love for your instrument, it's a major lack of confidence. Perhaps you know those awful moments when you stare at the music, with shaking hands and a lump in your throat that you know will soon dissolve into tears. Sometime you try to play, your hands getting stuck on a beginning phrase- exactly like a speech stutter except musical. Sometimes you try to get started but you can’t help comparing yourself to that prodigy boy you saw at the school’s talent show or your teacher with decades of experience. You want to be a good musician, you want to perform well, you want to please your teacher—but you can’t. There’s this horrid mental block squishing all your dreams and your ability to interpret musical notes.

My main piece of advice is to do whatever it takes to keep making music in whatever form. If the ensemble dynamic is the problem, find another. Try joining a laid-back vocal choir where you can enjoy making music in a supportive group. Perhaps try switching instruments or teachers but I found my mental block soon followed me across instruments so careful with that one!

At the end of the day you need to make a giant internal change to save yourself from decapitation by mental block.

Which I fully realize is totally intimidating and difficult for someone already struggling with the mental fortitude needed to be a musician. I've struggled down this route and now I'm pursuing a music major if that's comfort to any musical human out there.

You need to build confidence with something musical. If you can’t sightread [insert difficult music here], then start with folk songs. If you struggle with a particular technique (it was trills for me!!), maybe avoid songs that have those. Look through old sheet music and work on relearning it- you’ll hopefully pick up the music up again faster and better which will pick you up with it. If you can’t perform at the recital in front of all the other students, find a sweet non-musical person to perform for. If you pick the right piece, one that sounds harder than it is, you’ll get a resounding applause JUST BECAUSE. If you can perform at the recital, but need to leave before the more advanced students perform and inadvertently make you feel bad about yourself—orchestrate this with your teacher.

Above all keep making music. Your music has value even if it would sound “badly-played” to a music professor, even if you left out the difficult parts, even if you can’t practice without crying. Musicanship is wonderful, don’t quit for no good reason.

Go practice something, even a measure! Good luck!