16/01/2024
How will I know you are in a dark place if whenever I ask you how you are doing, you say you are fine?
How will I look out for signs of you not doing well when you work so hard to mask those signs? ๐
How will I know you need help if whenever I ask you how things are going, you say, "great"?
How will I give you support when you always let me believe you don't need it?
How will your family help you (if they can), when you constantly pretend to them that you are in the best place ever?
How will your friends rally round you when you constantly hide how things truly are?
Sometimes, we are too proud to let those who can help us actually help us; we don't want people to know we are in need, we are in trouble, we are in pain, we are weak, we are failing, we are dying inside. Sometimes, it's not pride, but a desire to not inconvenience others. If people love you, then your problems or difficulty must not be an inconvenience to them.
The truth is that we know those who care about us, and when we hide our difficulties from them, we are depriving them (and ourselves) the chance to be there for you. As long as I care about you, if you are fighting, then we are fighting, if you are in pain, then it's our pain, if you are shedding tears, those are our tears, you must not shed them alone. The point is for you not to stand alone. That's why we have people who love us.
Years ago, I read a survey of people who attempted su***de but survived. Besides those who had serious mental issues, EVERY one of the responded to said as soon as they took the action that would take their lives, THEY REGRETTED THE ACTION! And do you know why they regretted their action? Because they realized that death was not what they wanted; what they wanted was relief from the pain, the difficulty, the hardship. You don't want to die; it is help you need.
Don't stand alone. Don't fight alone. Don't hide your tears from those who truly care. We build communities, we build relationships so that we don't stand alone in the time of difficulty and doubt, and pain. If you ask for help, and you don't get it, you have asked the wrong people. Don't let that discourage you. There are people who will rally round you in the day of your tears.
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