"What will people think?"
"Will I be judged?"
"Will they think I'm weak?"
"What will happen to me if I do?"
"What stigma is attached?"
"What... "
As someone who struggled with depression and suicidal thoughts, I found it so hard to reach out for help.
These fears were holding me back.
So many fears to consider when we aren't in a good state to consider them rationally. Everyone knows that we can and should reach out for help, yet so many don't.
Why? The reasons are many and different for each of us.
It does take courage to reach out, courage and determination to survive. Furthermore, we must also be in a lucid state of mind to know that we must reach out. Although they are far between and only momentary, clarity does come to us when we are struggling with dark thoughts. That is the time to act fast, yet we seldom know that it is a short point of clarity.
Instead, we hold on to that little glimmer of hope that we are getting better. We aren't. It's just our mind in respite, having a rest before it starts again in its fruitless attempt to help us. We have to help our mind in these situations, our mind won't help us, it's simply working on autopilot as it continues to remind us of our past.
Know that there is always someone willing to help . Know that you will work through this challenging time despite how hard it may seem right now. Know that you will no doubt go on to achieve wonderful things. You now know something that few get to know - that we are all stronger than we think we are.
Know also, you have been given a gift, a gift of survival. It is our duty, those of us who had that lucid moment and courageously reached out for support, to pass on that gift to others. A gift that we all have, if we just had that lucid moment. If you are struggling right now, reach out.
If you have lost someone who was unable to reach out, know that's most likely because they never had that lucid moment, that glimmer of clarity. They were also brave and courageous because they fought so hard.
Let's talk! It is important that we all do so.
Reaching Out Is Courageous.