How Can I Be There for Someone Who Is Struggling?
Before I write about this topic, I wanted to say that it is a very serious thing that needs to be understood more. Just getting up each day can be extremely hard for some when dealing with their mental health.
I am not a doctor, or any health professional but I know what it feels like and what helped me get through the darkest times in my life.
If you need someone to talk to in this moment, please call the hotline and know that someone is there to help— go to https://988lifeline.org or call 988.
What is the term “mental health” and what does it mean?
Mental health is our psychological wellbeing, and how our brain handles our traumas or the environment around us. When a person has gone through so many tragic events in a short amount of time it causes a lot of stress and starts to alter the way we think and how we initially socialize.
Trauma and being somewhere that is unsafe mentally and physically takes a toll on someone who has already experienced trauma. They start feeling unsafe in the environment they are in and begin to hide.
This is a way of protection and to cope with what is going on. Kind of like hiding inside of a shell or box. They can hear everything that is going on around them, and that can make or break someone. Although they can hear, their vision becomes altered, and they start to lose focus of the things around them.
This is a scary, and dangerous spot for someone to be in and in this time what they need the most is someone to bring them out of that shell and for them to be that light in their darkness. Many people suffer in silence because they are afraid of what someone might say, or they are afraid to trust someone.
Maybe that person has had their trust broken or violated. Then they become the person that only they can trust, so being alone feels better for them.
Helping someone with mental health first comes with understanding, empathy and grace. This is a vulnerable and scary place they are in. They know where they are is unsafe, but they don’t know how to escape it themself.
That’s the importance of having someone there to listen, empathize and giving them grace. So that they can begin to see the world around them again.
Kind of like someone who is color blind but is given special glasses for them to see what the colors really look like. Even though they aren’t blind their eyes are altered to not see the colors around them. Those glasses are you, and you can be the very one that God brings to them to give them that vision of color again.
I speak of God always because He can heal all wounds, tears, traumas and pain… I know because He has healed me from all the things that has once hurt me and has freed me from that dark path. God is the ultimate healer, and He can do all things that seem impossible to us.
God will send somebody to us with a lantern that He lights, so that we can see the way. Maybe you are that somebody that can be that light for someone… if you have that feeling to be there for someone don’t hesitate to be there. It could very well save someone from the darkness they are in.
If you feel like you don’t have anyone or are scared to reach out… you are not alone, and there is always someone there that will lift you out of that darkness. You are worthy to live, to be loved, to experience the life that God has given to you. You are precious in the eyes of God, and He loves you so much. Even when no one is there for you, God always will be there. Reach to Him and He will reach to you.
God tells us these things, and these are His promises to us. These are only 5 of the many promises God gives us when we trust and follow Him:
Deuteronomy 31:8 – “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
John 16:33 – “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for peace and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Matthew 11:28 – “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
This is not the end for you, you are worthy to live and to live your life to the full potential God has given to you. Don’t give up, don’t lose hope. There is a plan and purpose for you!
God has put me through so many trials and tests and boy were they hard and sometimes even shook my faith… God had to have me go through those tests to equip me for what He has for me. Sometimes our journey is hard, and there may be heartbreak, pain, sickness, and many different obstacles along the way. Trust God through it ALL. There is a plan and a purpose. Does it sometimes hurt? Yes. Is it what we want? Most of the time, no. Will we understand it? Not in the moment but trust me down the road you will understand the purpose of it.
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