Weâve all had moments where weâve needed someone to lean on. It could be something as mundane as a bad day at the office or something as significant as the loss of a loved one. Either way, weâve learnt that emotional support is vital - something we both receive and give, right?
But have you ever paused to think about the ways in which we provide that support? Is there a right or wrong way? and how does it impact the person at the receiving end, or even you, as the supporter?
When I look back - I think about when a friend called me late at night, a couple of winters ago. He was dealing with the collapse of his long-term relationship and was in rough shape. I remember being unsure of what to say, for fear I would make things worse. It made me wonder whether, sometimes, we hesitate to provide support because weâre afraid of saying the âwrongâ thing? Have you ever felt like that?
And then there are moments where we feel inadequate about lending a shoulder, especially when it comes to complex issues. Mental health, for instance. In the past decade, thereâs been a growing conversation about it, and rightfully so. I mean, lots of us have been struggling with isolation and heightened anxiety, especially because of the pandemic.
Despite our struggles, how often have we held ourselves back, wondering whether weâre equipped enough to be there for someone dealing with mental health issues đ€
