What do you do with a teenager who is so afraid to fail that she is afraid to try?

geez thats rough. myself i've always been a perfectionist, and as such, a procrastinator. also had trouble making up work after missing cl. how old is the child? i'm giong to guess 6th 7th or 8th grade. here is what i propose, tell her of course as you have been, that good grades are important, and as such, taht you wnat to spend quality time with her helping her with her homework, so that she can get thsoe grades up. when i was that age, my mother was perfectly devoted to my academic life, and to be honest, i never woudl have got better than Cs if she hadnt. that is the hardest time, academically, because at that time, your brain is growing and youre in adolescence. its a crazy time, when shes a little older you wont have to help her. but i think you shoudl now.