There is also a temptation to rely solely on our own resources, and to keep a lid on a box that we have no wish to open. There is a temptation to believe we deserve our troubles and therefore are not worth helping. There is a temptation to think everyone else is managing and we are somehow ‘weaker.’
All these beliefs can mean it is even harder to ask others for help when we need it most. But we don’t need to ask anyone, or everyone, only someone we trust.
Sharing how we feel can be the most powerful comfort if we allow ourselves to access this balm.
This is how counselling can help, but so can a friend, colleague or family member. If we can share now how hard we are finding things, it can also give others an invitation to do the same at a later date. It is part of a conversation that allows all of us to be less than perfect; it allows us to be vulnerable. To be resilient we need to be able to access external help as well as our own internal resources.
The pandemic has taught us we are all so connected. Why don’t we use this idea of connection to help someone we care about improve their wellbeing by giving our time to talk, or listen?
Time to Change hosted ‘Time to Talk Day’ earlier this month as a way to start conversations about mental health and help end the stigma. You can find some helpful tips on talking about mental health on their website.