Talking About Your Concerns Can Give a Different Perspective
Are you having a rough day? Have you been feeling down for a while? Everyone goes through tough times, and no matter how long you’ve had something on your mind – whether for just a few hours or months – it’s important that you talk to someone about it. You don’t have to confront your setbacks alone.
Here are a few of the benefits of talking to someone about how you’re feeling:
Sort through your feelings. Talking about your feelings can help you make sense of them. Sometimes, just verbalizing what is upsetting you to someone you trust can help you sort through your feelings, or make the situation clearer.
Put things in perspective. If you’ve been keeping things to yourself, a situation seem more overwhelming than it actually is. The person you talk with might help you see the situation in a new or different perspective. Someone outside the situation might also be more neutral about what’s going on because the outcome won’t affect him or her personally. The person you speak with might also suggest options that you had not thought about before.
Release tension. Talking through your concerns can also be a great way to vent and release pent-up tension. Just “getting the problem out” can help you feel better. Not only does it feel great, but it can also give you new insights into what’s happening in your life.
Who should I talk with?
Deciding who you want to talk to is an important first step. It’s important that you can trust the person you decide to speak with.
Your friends and fam. Often times, our friends or family are the first people we go to with our problems. They love us and typically have our best interest at heart, so they can be an easy option. However, some things we go through might be pretty private. It might feel scary sharing your concerns or asking questions about private things with them because you’re not ready yet. That’s okay. Everyone has a different role in your life and if you feel safe sharing certain things with them…go for it! If you’re anxious and maybe questioning sharing things with them, there are other people you can turn to.
Professionals. Sometimes potential helpers may not have the experience or knowledge to provide the advice or support you need. Depending on your situation, you might want to speak with a professional, like a teacher, counselor, doctor or nurse. If it’s necessary, each of these individuals can point you in the direction of someone specially trained to help you cope with your specific issue.
If you’re interested in learning more about mental health professionals and talking to them, check out these articles:
- Mental Health Professionals
- School Counselors
- Is My Therapist Right for Me?
- Confidentiality
- Visiting a Mental Health Professional for the First Time
- Counseling and Therapy
The interwebs. The way our world is today, you don’t even have to leave your house to find someone to talk with. The internet is a wild place and there are lots of groups and apps and platforms you can use online to help find support. Almost any online platform you go to has space for people to create their own communities, if only through #hashtags. Look up keywords to things you’re experiencing and you’re bound to find a group of folks with the same interest or desire to form community over that topic. Some good places to start might be Facebook Groups, Tumblr, Vent, Amino, Discord, or Whisper. Always be mindful of what you share and with whom, however, thankfully you can be as anonymous as you like on most of these platforms.
Crisis support. If you can’t find someone you know to talk to (or talking to someone you know might feel too embarrassing) you might want to try youth helpline YouthLine at 1-877-968-8491 or by texting teen2teen at 839863, where trained individuals will listen to you. You can call 24/7 to talk with someone if you are in crisis, or call between 4pm and 10pm PST to specifically speak with youth. You can also check out our crisis support resources here.
Sometimes It Isn’t Easy
If you’re used to bottling everything up, it can make it very hard to actually talk about what’s going on. Just know, no matter how much or how little you share and get off your chest, you’re allowed to take time to process your feelings and to become comfortable with sharing yourself. Once you find someone that can honor your story and hold space for you to talk freely, you’ll find it much easier to continue doing so. Remember that it’s okay to move at your own pace.