I was going to make a very specific post today and I am deciding to trash it. I am writing this for whoever needs to hear it…

IT IS OKAY TO ASK FOR HELP.

There I said it.

I think there is a lot of shame and humiliation when it comes to asking for help for yourself or for someone else. Some may say it is like showing a sign of weakness. However, I believe that asking for help makes you stronger than Superman or Wonder Woman. It is not a weakness to ask for help, it is a strength.

I say and know this to be fact because asking for help can save your life or someone else’s. When I was suicidal, I was at the location where I was going to commit the act when my best friend called me and I sobbed on the phone to him and he talked me out of it. I ended up leaving the beach that day and I’m writing this today so I know that asking for his help saved my own life that day a year and a half ago.

If you are suicidal or have suicidal ideations, or mental health issues of any kind. I beg of you to ask for help because you never know what will trigger you from having ideation to actually committing the act of suicide. I have two people in my life who are experiencing mental health symptoms, one is refusing treatment or help of any kind, and the other’s medication has failed to work for months so their symptoms have worsened this individual’s quality of life greatly.

My heart breaks for both of them because unless they get the right help that they need, whether it be therapy, meds, coping mechanisms, what have you, things could end badly. Life is so fragile and I didn’t realize the rock in my life felt so terribly. They need help and are refusing it because they think meds won’t help. I try to plead with them to no avail.

I would never say that someone is too weak or not strong enough if they were to commit suicide, but I can’t agree that suicide is the right answer.

There is always someone to talk to, there are so many things and resources that this world can offer and you are not alone.

I think around this time of year everyone is struggling because it’s after the holidays which are rough in their own regard and now it’s back to “normal” and you may have overspent for Christmas and you’re in debt, or you lost your job, you can’t come up with enough money for groceries.

What helps me is that I know I am not the only one in this predicament and there are resources that can help. Not to mention, we have been in the midst of a global pandemic for over two years now. We must be conscientious about how we respond and react to others because we have no idea who is going through what.

Remember!

• be kind to one another
• help yourself. You can’t help another person with a life jacket if you don’t have on your own.
• The SUICIDE HOTLINE is open 24/7 366 days a year (including leap year) 800-273-8255
• CRISIS TEXT LINE 741.741
• You’re worthy, you are loved, you are appreciated, you are special, you are kind, you are smart.
• I am here for you. I may be a virtual robot blogger to some of you, but there is truly someone behind this screen who writes this stuff and cares about each and every one of you.
• mental health matters
• take a mental health day
• drink some water
• take a big breath
• now again
• and again

Much love,

Dani