{"id":11231,"date":"2020-09-25T14:15:50","date_gmt":"2020-09-25T18:15:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/briwebapp.net\/cfgxfm\/?p=11231"},"modified":"2020-09-25T15:21:51","modified_gmt":"2020-09-25T19:21:51","slug":"feel-good-friday-dont-be-afraid-to-ask-for-help","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/briwebapp.net\/cfgxfm\/blogs\/afternoons\/2020\/09\/feel-good-friday-dont-be-afraid-to-ask-for-help\/","title":{"rendered":"Feel Good Friday – Don’t Be Afraid To Ask For Help"},"content":{"rendered":"

I love the Beatles<\/em> song – “With A Little Help From My Friends”<\/em>.\u00a0 It was part of one of the most memorable episodes on Gilmore Girls (smile) but it’s also a reminder that sometimes we really need a little help to get through this crazy life.\u00a0 We need people.\u00a0 We need to lean on people when times are tough.\u00a0 When we feel overwhelmed.\u00a0 When it feels too much.<\/p>\n

If anything, this pandemic has taught us just how true that is. Life is too hard to get through on your own. We sometimes need to ask for help.<\/p>\n

It’s been a challenging time for sure.\u00a0 I’ve struggled.\u00a0 And I’ve struggled with asking for help too.\u00a0 But as The Canadian Mental Health Association Lambton-Kent<\/a> reminds us this week for Feel Good Friday<\/em> – we need<\/em> to “Ask for Help”<\/strong><\/em> when we need it and not be afraid or ashamed to do so.<\/p>\n

Sounds easy, right? Especially when it feels we’re taught to “suck it up”.\u00a0 \u00a0“Don’t air your dirty laundry with everyone”.\u00a0 “Keep it to yourself”.\u00a0 “Power through it”.<\/p>\n

I know for me, if I keep things to myself for too long, and try to do it alone, I will eventually reach a breaking point, and then months of emotions and bottled up feelings come flooding out over the stupidest thing.\u00a0But I am LEARNING that despite what the world tries to make us feel sometimes, it’s OKAY to ask for help.\u00a0 It’s ENCOURAGED.<\/p>\n

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I’ve been dealing with some “stuff” lately.\u00a0 And it’s been hard and it’s been heavy.<\/p>\n

And as I learn to let people in, and to let people help, I’ve discovered that surrounding yourself with the right people matters.\u00a0 People who will listen.\u00a0 People who will surround you with love and support with no judgement.<\/p>\n

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The last few weeks I have pushed myself to go to group fitness classes outdoors.\u00a0 We’ve been under the Bluewater Bridges.\u00a0 In Centennial Park.\u00a0 And at the Agora stage area. Being outdoors, and exercise are two of the things we’ve talked about on previous Feel Good Fridays.\u00a0 They are shown to boost your mood and help you feel good.<\/p>\n

The weather has been incredible,\u00a0 but it’s the feeling that comes from being allowed to open your heart, allow yourself to be vulnerable with people, that is the best medicine.\u00a0 It’s therapy.<\/p>\n

I have learned that when I know I’m struggling, I need to exercise. I need a good challenging workout to help me through it.\u00a0 It helps me.\u00a0 It strengthens me in more ways than one.\u00a0 And sometimes, when the tears start, when I’m trying to get through some ab work, that’s when I KNOW I need to ask for help.\u00a0 I know that it’s not the exercise that I’m struggling with.\u00a0 It’s life.\u00a0 I’m lucky to have found a group to share life with.\u00a0 Even at a distance.\u00a0 (Boy do I miss hugs)<\/p>\n

You need to find your people.\u00a0 Your group.\u00a0 So you can share the burden.\u00a0 Share the weight.\u00a0 Share the hurt and the struggle and the weariness.<\/p>\n

The world is hard enough as it is.\u00a0 Throw in Covid-19 and that’s a whole new ballgame.\u00a0 You aren’t meant to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders.<\/p>\n

So let’s make a promise to each other that we will stop<\/em> trying to suck it up and handle it on our own.<\/p>\n

Let’s make a promise that we will reach out and ASK FOR HELP when we need it.<\/p>\n

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Is it hard for you to ask for help?\u00a0 According to the Canadian Mental Health Association –<\/p>\n

“Some people worry about asking for help because there can be a stigma around mental health problems.\u00a0 They may believe that asking for help means admitting that something is wrong.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/em> Some people worry about\u00a0how others might see them. <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Asking for help means that you want to make changes or take steps towards your new health goals. We should celebrate the courage it takes to speak up and make changes. Getting help is part of recovery.\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Feeling stressed, anxious or overwhelmed? Asking for help from friends, family, or others you trust is a great way to start feeling better.”<\/strong><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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My youngest daughter just started high school.\u00a0 Lots of anxiety was happening BEFORE covid-19.\u00a0 \u00a0But I was so excited to learn that her art teacher is encouraging students to connect with other students and reach out to each other.\u00a0 She has set up a system with colours and magnets.\u00a0 Each student assigns a “mood” to themselves each day that is visible on a board of some kind.\u00a0 \u00a0They could be having a great day or they could be having a “covid day”.\u00a0 Happy, mad, sad. Different moods\/ feelings\/ emotions.<\/p>\n

They are encouraged to look out for their classmates, and notice when someone is having a not so good day to be extra kind that day to those in need.\u00a0 I love that idea.<\/p>\n

Just imagine if we brought that into the workplace.\u00a0 Or other areas in life.<\/p>\n

A reminder that you never know what someone else is going through or dealing with or thinking or feeling.<\/p>\n

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Let’s start looking at asking for help as being courageous and encourage others to do the same.<\/p>\n

I’ll promise to ask for help and I hope you do too.<\/p>\n