When you don’t feel like doing anything, when all you want to do is stay in bed, that’s okay because someday you’ll learn that it’s okay to not be okay. But if you aren’t okay, then you should get help, and getting help is okay, too! We all need an extra hand at times; it’s okay to reach out for that extra hand. It might be hard to ask for help and admit you’re not okay because a lot of people say just be happy, which isn’t usually helpful at all.
Think of it this way the next time a person tells you to just be happy…you can see me smiling, you can hear me laughing, but you can’t see or hear my pain. You can clearly see my physical scars, but you can’t see the internal battles I’m going through or my emotional scars. You can hear my words, you can read my lips, but you can’t read or hear what’s going on in my mind. You can say my name because that’s what you know, but you don’t know my story.
No one knows exactly what it’s like to be in your shoes, and no one will ever know because you are you, and even if they know some things about you, they can’t experience the exact same things you experience. However, other trusted and caring individuals can relate to your problems and help you to feel less alone.
Start off by telling a trusted adult about what you are going through; they can help you connect to the people who can help you more. Sometimes you just need to talk to someone, sometimes you just need someone who understands, and other times you just need a break from life.
Taking a break from things is okay too because we all sometimes just need to get away from certain parts of our lives. But that doesn’t mean avoiding it altogether—it just means taking some time for yourself to recharge and get into a better headspace.
Just know that it’s okay to not be okay at times; try not to listen to the people who tell you to just be happy, and know that we all need an extra hand at times. Remember you are braver than you believe, stronger than you think, and loved more than you’ll ever know.
