Authour: Angela Ziegler
There is no shame in reaching out.
Much of our culture only seems to focus on positive aspects of life. Of course, this is understandable, because people would rather be happy than sad. But that can be harmful, because people are expected to put on a disguise and act like they are happy all of the time; you can probably remember at least one time when you were trying to act happy when in reality you were far from it.
It’s not easy to talk about more serious topics, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t.
It might not seem like it, but everybody has insecurities that they are trying to deal with. Unfortunately for most people, talking about vulnerable topics with others is uncomfortable at best and shameful at worst. Most people are good at putting on a fake smile and hiding their true emotions, because opening up and talking about our feelings can make us feel vulnerable.
While it can be very difficult, there is no shame in wanting support when you are feeling overwhelmed or upset.”
Now, I’m not saying that everybody has to tell everybody about all of their problems, but I do think that keeping your troubles to yourself can be damaging. If you don’t talk to somebody about your feelings, they can gnaw at you and slowly wear you down. Even if you think that your problems “aren’t that important,” your feelings are still valid, and there is no shame in talking to somebody about them.
Remember, positive emotions do not make up all of the human experience. Negative emotions, like fear, anger, guilt, and jealousy, are just as much a part of being human as happy emotions are. There can’t be joy without sadness, and life would be very superficial and shallow if everybody was always happy. Why does society ignore and try to suppress these feelings, even though everybody has them?
It’s completely normal to have difficult emotions, because nobody is happy all of the time. No matter what your problem is, no matter how big or how small, there is no shame in asking for help.
If you ever need help dealing with something, don’t hesitate to talk to somebody you trust. You can anonymously call, chat, text, or email us if you ever need somebody to talk to.
