Inside Hurt
I’m a fun-loving kind of person and I usually write about my latest adventures. I also enjoy being helpful and so I often write posts with good advice for parents of my fellow babies. Today I want to talk about an extremely important issue. It’s so serious that it may seem out of character for me.
I would like to talk about mental health awareness. It makes me sad to know that many people who suffer with mental health issues do so alone and in silence. They are afraid to let anyone in because they fear that they will be judged or branded with an ugly word. This is unfair.
When I fall and hurt myself, I like to cry to make sure people know my pain. That’s what makes mommy rush over to comfort me. Knowing that mommy is there for me, along with a good snuggle, does wonders to make the pain go away. If I had a hurt on the inside, I would want to be comforted then too.
There are professionals out there that we can count on when we need to. While it’s not always easy to admit that we need help, therapists and psychologists are trained to offer the assistance we need. There is no shame in working with a professional to improve ourselves.
If people who hurt on the inside don’t feel comfortable seeking comfort for that pain, this is a failure on our part. We need to let them know that they can depend on us. We have to make them feel safe in our care. It’s time for us to become comforting to those who hurt before their pain eats them up.
There are many organizations and initiatives fighting the war on mental illness and the stigmas that surround them. One of our favourite such initiatives is Bell Let’s Talk day. On this day, Bell is donating 5 cents for every text and call made by any service subscriber. There’s more! Bell will also donate 5 cents for every view of the Bell Let’s Talk Facebook video and each use of the Bell Let’s Talk Snapchat geofilter. Hold on, that’s not all! Use #BellLetsTalk on Twitter as well as Instagram and Bell will donate 5 cents for each use of the hashtag. What do you have to lose?
Guess what! Bell Let’s Talk day is happening right now! Get out there, reach out, and start interacting while raising money for this cause. It’s not even your money! That’s what makes this our favourite mental health awareness initiative. All you need to is spread the word.
In case you missed the 2017 Bell Let’s Talk day you can start preparing for next year. To learn more about Bell Let’s Talk go to their website. You will find information about their event as well as helpful resources. There is no easier way to show your support for all those who hurt in silence.
Inside pain is not so different from outside pain. Maybe we can’t see it the way we can see a bruise, and maybe we don’t understand the source of it like the telltale thump of a bump in progress, but that doesn’t make it any less real. It is not right to judge the hurt felt by someone else. It’s their hurt and only they can feel it.
About 20% of people will hurt on the inside at some time in their lives. We can’t let them hurt alone. We must reach out and let them know that we are here and we are ready to listen. We can not erase the pain, but we can be there for comfort and offer snuggles until the hurt becomes more bearable.
If you’re hurting right now, I want to tell you that there are people around you who want to help. Maybe they don’t realize how much you’re hurting, but they are there for you. You matter! Reach out to them and let them love you. Even if you’re a little broken, you’re still valuable and worth the effort.
If you’re too afraid to show your inside hurt to someone you know, there are professionals that can help. They’ve seen it all and they know what to do. If that’s not an option, I’m here for you. All you have to do is contact me. I’m just a baby and I probably can’t fix your broken bits, but I’m a very good listener.
Around 80% of us will have our lives touched by mental illness. Our family members and our friends may be the ones who hurt and suffer. Perhaps they already are hurting but are too afraid to reach out for help. Inside hurt is very good at hiding. Don’t let it fool you.
We must work hard to erase the stigma around mental illness so that people who suffer can finally be free to seek the comfort they need. We must listen without passing judgment. When we speak, we must choose our words carefully remembering that anyone around us might be suffering right now. If we hear others use thoughtless words, we need to speak up and point out their error. If they will not listen, we need to drown their cruelty in our compassion.
We must make ourselves available to those who need us but are too afraid to ask. We have to actively search for those who are being smothered by the pain and are drowning in darkness. We need to set the example by taking care of ourselves and asking for help when we’re struggling. We must all do our part to help each other. Don’t let anyone hurt alone.
Mental health awareness seems to be getting better (at least in the UK)
I’ve gone years without hearing anything about it but over the last 1-2 years I’ve come across multiple discussions and awareness campaigns like this.
Hopefully the trend continues.
I think there is a lot of fear when it comes to admitting that one has a problem. There is always the worry that people will see them as weak or thinks it’s just an excuse. It’s hard to admit to something that’s so hard to prove. But people with mental illnesses shouldn’t have to prove anything. I think it’s important to remind them of that and offer support.
Thanks for reading.
Thank you for this post. The more we talk openly about mental illness the less stigma it carries.
I agree. Thanks for reading.
Such an important post. I’ve had anxiety after my second baby which is better now but talking about it helped so much. It is so common and needs to be talked about more! Great post and thanks for sharing with #bestandworst xx
Bringing babies into the world is hard work both physically and emotionally. It’s not surprising that so many people end up with some unwanted side effects. I’m glad to hear that you’re doing better. I hope it’s nothing but blue skies for you from here on. Thanks for visiting.
This is such a great post to raise awareness! Mental illness just isn’t talked about enough. And as such there seems to be a stigma & then like you said a fear about coming forward – that the person will be judged or thought of differently. Thanks for linking up with us at #BloggerClubUK x
Thanks. Mental health has always been a cause that’s close to my heart. I wanted to spread the word about this particular initiative because I think it’s something anyone can participate. Just by getting involved on social media, anyone, anywhere, can help raise money and awareness. Too bad it’s just once per year. Thanks for reading.
I think mental health awareness is getting a lot better, but the stigma is still there. People are aware but still act badly towards it. If that makes sense? Awareness is the first step though. I love this post, so beautifully written. So happy there are more support organisations around now too.
The truth is that many people simply don’t understand mental illness. They know it exists but they can’t relate. Many people hide it from their friends and family, so even though most people are affected by mental illness through someone they know, they don’t actually realize it. They go on with their misconceptions sometimes in front of the person who is suffering, which only makes them that much less likely to speak up.
Thanks for visiting.
What a great campaign! Hopefully there’s something similar elsewhere in the world as well 🙂
It would be nice. Worth looking into. With the Bell Let’s Talk day, anyone can join in on social media to raise money, but all the funds go to Canadian mental health initiatives. I would still say it’s worth for everyone to participate. When it comes to awareness and medical breakthroughs, national borders don’t matter.