3 Reasons To Ask For Help

By Paul Triggs, LMSW

Talking about your challenges to other people may be a difficult thing and can seem daunting. This dread can be especially bad in New York City, where asking for help in public is unofficially frowned upon and treated poorly. Although this perception is a social norm here, I dare you to go out and try to ask for some help or communicate your challenges, because you may be pleasantly surprised by the responses you receive.

1.     Relieves Stress

Openly discussing your challenges is a good way to relieve stress and get things off your chest. For a second, think about the last time you had some juicy information whether good or bad and what did you do with that information? I bet you shared it with someone, because communication itself is a good form of stress relief and valuable way to build a connection. For example, it has been clinically proven that talking about your challenges with others will help make you feel more understood and validated (1). In turn, give discussing your challenges with others a try and see if this works for you.

2.     Connects Supports

Talking about your challenges will not only relieve stress but you may actually find new allies. Take a moment and think about your close friends and focus on what makes your relationship work. Although not all relationship are predicated on similarities there is a good chance that you have common interests and find comfort in related sources. This type of connection is not exclusive to enjoyable things as you can likely find many people who have experienced similar challenges and can relate to your stressors. As human beings we crave for connection and what deeper connection can you make than having a shared experience of challenge and triumph. In turn, I challenge you to look into some groups and community organizations that specialize in the type of challenges you face. This one step could potentially connect you to a new set of close friends you never knew were there.

3.     Provides Clarity

Discussing your challenges has been clinically proven to help individuals find clarity especially with a professional. For example, professional therapists who are trained in multiple modalities help individuals identify the source of their issues and work on fixing this step by step (2). As a therapist, I can attest to the power of guided conversation and manageable goal setting. If you have been through therapy take a moment to reflect on your experience and this affected your outlook toward the challenges you faced. If this a new concept for you feel free to ask a friend or a relative the simple act of asking about this experience is the first step to fostering a clear and open mind.

1. American Psychological Association, American Psychological Association, https://www.apa.org/helpcenter/manage-stress.

2. NHS Choices, NHS, https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/benefits-of-talking-therapy/.