We’ve all been there. We need to ask someone for help, yet we convince ourselves not to. Whether it’s with homework, a home project or our mental health, we bottle it up and believe that we can deal with it on our own.
But what good are friends if we can’t ask them to help us? What good is family if they don’t get to lend a helping hand when we need it?
Here’s a list of some things we say to convince ourselves that we don’t need to ask for help, and why it’s not true.
1. “I Don’t Want to Bother Anyone”
You probably think that explaining a problem to someone and asking for their help will put a screeching halt to their day which will make them regret becoming your friend to begin with. Your friends are your friends because they want to help you.
You aren’t bothering anyone when you ask for help. Instead, you’re showing that you trust them enough to let them in on a part of your life that you aren’t so secure in. That’s huge.
If it’s really a bother for them, maybe it’s time to find some new friends
2. “I Can Handle It On My Own”
Maybe you can, but you might not be able to. It was much easier to get through some of the toughest times of my life with friends and family by my side.
You don’t have to handle everything on your own. You can ask for a hand to hold, a shoulder to cry on, or anything that you think might help you through it.
You don’t have to ask for someone to fix you, but just for support, because we are made to be a part of community.
Sometimes, all we need is someone by our side, a person who we know is there for us, even if it’s just for moral support.
3. “I Don’t Want to Look Weak”
I identify with this reason particularly well.
As a woman in today’s society, any sign of weakness is frowned upon, as we must be strong, independent women (who don’t need no man).
Here’s the crazy part about this though: asking for help doesn’t make you weak, it makes you strong. It is extremely hard to admit, but it’s a huge step to fight any battle that needs fighting and you’ll have your support squad behind you. That’s a strong fighter right there.
4. “No One Cares”
Someone does care; I care.
No one should feel as though they can’t turn to anyone when times get tough.
There are plenty of people who think that you are valuable. It’s just a matter of finding them and reaching out to them.
Some great communities can be found through extracurriculars, clubs around town, and even online. There are also hotlines you can call or text and you can chat with someone who truly cares about you and wants to help, anonymously.
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Going through any kind of situation where your mental health isn’t the best is hard, but you don’t have to go through it alone, and you shouldn’t.
You don’t get to choose your battles, but you can decide how to fight it, and I certainly hope you choose to do so with your support squad by your side every step of the way.
Reflect & Refresh 