Dear Struggling,

Wherever you are in life, you’ve likely had some experiences that changed you. This is a part of life. Sometimes, though, those experiences change us so much and so quickly that we need help to process them. A loss of a family member, or a traumatic life event are some of these.

Recognizing that you need this extra help in no way makes you weak or a lesser person. You are not defined by your experiences. You are defined by how you react to them. Will you close yourself up and refuse to allow growth to happen in your personal life? Or will you use these things to open up and help others walking a similar path?

Admitting I needed counseling was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. But it was good for me. If I hadn’t had the support of my family and close friends to make that appointment, I wouldn’t have. I realize that not all of us have that supportive network, so if that’s you, allow me to be that person for you.

If you were hanging off a cliff by your fingertips, and there were passersby minding their own business, would you raise your voice and ask for help? Or would you struggle on your own and eventually fall? You could call my imagery dramatic, but I don’t think it’s very different. Trade a physical cliff for an emotional one, and maybe that’s where you are right now. You might feel like you’re barely hanging on, like you can’t deal with everything in your life right now. You just can’t possibly do this by yourself anymore.

You don’t have to. You never have to. In Christ, there is healing, hope, and redemption, but He also places kind people on earth in a position to help the struggling in tangible ways. Counselors, pastors, therapists. All of them spend their careers helping people heal from their pasts and grow stronger for their futures.

The first visit will be hard. You’ll sneak your way to the office, you’ll fidget in the waiting room and you’ll consider leaving. After the visit, you’ll continually look over your shoulder looking for someone you know. But it won’t always be that way. Someday, when you’re dealing with your emotions in a healthier way, you’ll hold up your head a little higher every time. Someday, you’ll be more comfortable opening up about your need for counseling. Someday, you may even encourage others to seek out the help they need.

Making an appointment for counseling is the same as calling out when you’re about to lose your grip on a cliff face. No passerby would watch you fall, and no counselor wants to see you fall either. They want to help, they will do everything they can to help you. But the first step is your own. To get the help you need, you must first raise your voice.