I don’t like to ask for help. I’m sure there are some of you out there that can relate. I am a very stubborn person who has spent many years refusing to get help in pretty much any aspect of my life because I was very convinced that I could handle it, no matter what it is. It didn’t matter if it was asking for help on a math problem or if I didn’t feel well, I would refuse to ask for help until it was often too late, leading to a lot of poorly done worksheets and some very awkward moments.
I have been dealing with this for most of my life, and only recently have I been making small strides with this issue. I am learning to ask for help. And, as I learn to do this, I want you all to know that it is okay to ask for help. Honestly, it is. This is something that I wish that I had known earlier in my life. This inability of asking for help has had a huge impact on my mental health in a negative way and probably on a lot of other peoples as well. And with all of this negative impact, I have been forced to ask for help by seeing a counselor.
I admit it. I have made the decision to see a counselor and ask for help so I can deal with everything that is going on in my life and to cope with all of the struggles that have made me who I am today. By seeing a counselor, I have opened up so much more to the people I care about in my life, I have become more comfortable with myself, and I have learned that it is okay to make mistakes and to not be so hard on myself. Seeing a counselor has taught me more about myself, how I handle situations, and how I can handle them better. And, most importantly, I have learned that there is no shame in needing to ask for help, especially when your mental health is at stake. Keeping your mind healthy is, in all seriousness, just as important as keeping your body healthy.
The great thing about going to a school like Emporia State University is that there are counselors on campus that you, as a student, can see for free. No matter what you are struggling with, it won’t hurt you to see a counselor because your mental health is ridiculously important and definitely not talked about enough or taken seriously. There is no shame in needing help. Everyone needs help sometimes. I spent so long afraid to ask for help, and I have struggled with some pretty serious anxiety. Learning to ask for help and seeking help from a counselor has made me a stronger, happier person. I am stronger than my problems, and the truth of the matter is, so are you. So stay strong, my friends.
