When we ‘re feeling low or anxious, or going through difficult times, one of the most positive and helpful things we can do is talk to someone.
Many of us don’t like to ask for help. It can be scary, we might be worried about how people will react or what they will think or say about us. However most of us would want to help our friends if they were struggling, so why would they feel any differently about us?
Asking for help and talking about our feelings can be difficult and takes a lot of courage, but telling someone you trust really can help you to feel better and realise you are not alone.
If it is something specific that is causing you to feel anxious or depressed for example, then a parent, friend or teacher may be able to reassure you or offer practical help to find a solution.
Sometimes keeping things to ourselves can make them seem more overwhelming than they really are – the process of ‘offloading’ your worries and saying things out loud to someone else can make them seem less scary, and can feel like a huge release of pent up emotions and tension. Someone outside of your situation might be able to offer a different perspective and help you to see things in a new light.
Trying to explain what is going on inside your head can also help you to understand and sort through your feelings and work out what’s really worrying you.
It’s important to remember that you are not alone and you are not the only one to feel like this – everyone will experience emotional difficulties at some point, and many young people and adults have problems with mental health and go through times when we struggle to cope. The good news is that people can help and you don’t need to cope with everything alone. It is important not to spend too much time on your own when you are feeling low or vulnerable.
