DanaAtkin

Holding it all in may feel like you’re protecting those you love. You may feel like it’s silly to feel the way you feel or that somehow, they’ll judge you or perhaps they’ll react in a way that will make you feel worse, not better.

But holding on to thoughts and feelings means that eventually our tank gets full. It will either overflow, explode or even worse – implode.

Anxiety and Depression (especially depression) can be overwhelming. It can be feel like a bottomless pit and it can feel like a lonely experience. Yes, it’s also difficult to speak up about it too.

Here’s the thing. If you speak up, seek counsel on your thoughts, your fears and emotional space, then you have more opportunity to work your way out and back into the lighter side of life again. It won’t necessarily be easy but ultimately it’s worth it. Even the greatest warrior needs men at his side in order to do battle. So call on your people and ask them to stand with you, to walk by your side into the battle.

Thankfully, for me, I’ve only seen this from a step or two back from those effected by someone with depression. What I’ve noticed from my time as a Kinesiologist is that the thing that keeps us from a asking for help is the fear of “what will others think” or “I shouldn’t really feel this way” or “it’s selfish for me to feel this way when other people are struggling with real difficulties”. The difficulty you feel about your world is real to you. And that is real enough to seek counsel. You are entitled to feel the way you do and just because it may seem like other people have it harder than you, doesn’t mean you are any less worthy of support.

Seek counsel. Please.

Advice on how to have the conversation and who to seek counsel: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/have-the-conversation

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Note: This Monday Mantra is written specifically about Anxiety and Depression however, seeking counsel can be a big game changer regardless of your situation. Keep in mind too if you ever find yourself on the end of a conversation where someone you love is seeking your counsel, to remain in listening mode and offer your support where you can and know that how they are feeling is not a reflection on you personally but simply, how they feel.
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As always, download and save to your desktop or phone or print it and pin it somewhere you’ll see it. When you see it, say it. And if you know someone who would also benefit from this mantra, share it.