Table of Contents
Use your support network
Whatever you are going through remember that you don’t have to go through it alone. Make use of your support network.
Family and Friends
Not everyone is able to have these sorts of conversations, and don’t blame them for that as it’s hard, but try to find those friends and family that are able to provide effective support. There are plenty of people around with the empathy and ability to listen than can provide you with fantastic support.
Even if no one is able to really dive into the subject with you, just chatting about issues can still help. It may be that just chilling with friends is enough to reduce your negative emotions and help in a big way
Work
Speak to your line manager, HR department, union reps, or Paranimo. When I got some cognitive behaviour therapy a few years ago, I told people I worked with what I was doing and in the space of about week had 4 people ask me to help them do the same. Don’t worry about people having a negative view of asking for help. Almost everyone understands the importance of mental health issues, now. They are probably waiting for the moment to open up themselves and haven’t found the courage yet.
GP
Tell your GP. The NHS may be slow to react but they do have resources and counsellors in place to help.
Stand up for yourself
If you are feeling overwhelmed then it’s OK to turn down extra responsibility. You might need to be prepared to say no more often than normal, as agreeable people are inclined to try to help others by nature. That might not be what is best for you, though, and it’s OK to focus on yourself when you need to.
Similarly, if you feel people are being unfair or overly demanding then you may need to say so – provided there will be no serious repercussions for doing so, of course.
