Why is asking for help hard?
It has been my experience working with clients for over eight years that asking for help is difficult.
We live in a world that expects you to figure things out on your own. If you can’t , there is a stigma that something must be wrong with you.
There is nothing wrong with you. If you are scratching your head wondering why it is so hard for you to ask for help, maybe, it came from a teacher who scolded you when you didn’t know the answer. Regardless of where the challenge came from, you need to embrace help. When it comes to our mental health, some people believe that unless they are in deep crisis, you should seek help. I’m a believer that it is better to prevent crisis and receive support if you feel dissatisfied with the way things are going in your life. Do not wait until you feel overwhelmed by your dissatisfaction.
Sometimes, the overwhelm from asking for help can come from feeling shameful about it. Here’s a few ideas to counter-shameful thoughts about help:
At one time in our life, we all needed help to walk or learn to talk.
Remember a time when you injured a foot or hand and how nice it felt to ask for help.
Good friends are willing to be there for you and do not mind helping you.
The person being asked for help usually is quite happy that you asked.
You can start off small in what you can ask for help in and then, work yourself up to something bigger.
If you do not choose to contact me, I hope you find the right person to share your burden. And, remember that your life is worth overcoming the fear of asking for help. Your courage to ask is actually a strength to know that you have the foresight to avoid a potential crash up ahead if you keep going in the direction without any support.