I will always enjoy helping people when I can, even if it's just lending an ear while someone lets off some steam. Unfortunately, however, there's a downside to caring for others. Sometimes, they don't want help. Or, if they do, they refuse to admit it. And as a result, you get attacked with angry questions of “why?”
Today I did something that I find completely difficult for the second time since joining various groups where I try to give peer to peer advice—I contacted a family member on someone I felt needed help. And maybe this person wasn't serious about doing something today, but who's to say they wouldn't go back into that darkness tomorrow, next week, or a month from now? Am I supposed to just sit back and hope for the best? Of course not. I did what I felt needed to be done, and even though this person is extremely angry with me, I know I did the right thing. Personally, as a parent, I would hope that if my daughter was feeling that way, someone would have the courage to tell me so I could help her before I found out the hard, devastating way.
The reason for this post isn't for me to share what I did and brag (believe me, I don't see myself as any sort of hero; I just did the responsible thing), but to encourage others to do the same if need be. The thought of a friend or even a stranger being angry with you for trying to help them is a very terrifying thing. But, unfortunately, that can cause many people to not receive the help they need and deserve. I'm here to tell you that helping that person is infinitely more important than them being happy with you and still wanting/trying to die. To help someone, sometimes you have to do what you know is right as opposed to what they want you to do. Helping people isn't about telling them what they want to hear, it's about actually helping them. If the only way you can help someone is to call or message a family member or, if it's too late for that, calling 9-1-1, you have to do that. I don't mean to run to a family member or call 9-1-1 the second someone says “Bad day, I hate this,” because that's only going to cause more problems, but if someone is threatening to take their life, they need help.
I will never regret the times I contacted family members, even though both times it wasn't accepted by the one needing help. I will always stand by my decision and I truly hope that by doing so, those people are able to get help. They deserve it. I also hope that, when faced with a similar situation, you all can find the courage to do the same.
Stay Alive,
Lindsey
Today I did something that I find completely difficult for the second time since joining various groups where I try to give peer to peer advice—I contacted a family member on someone I felt needed help. And maybe this person wasn't serious about doing something today, but who's to say they wouldn't go back into that darkness tomorrow, next week, or a month from now? Am I supposed to just sit back and hope for the best? Of course not. I did what I felt needed to be done, and even though this person is extremely angry with me, I know I did the right thing. Personally, as a parent, I would hope that if my daughter was feeling that way, someone would have the courage to tell me so I could help her before I found out the hard, devastating way.
The reason for this post isn't for me to share what I did and brag (believe me, I don't see myself as any sort of hero; I just did the responsible thing), but to encourage others to do the same if need be. The thought of a friend or even a stranger being angry with you for trying to help them is a very terrifying thing. But, unfortunately, that can cause many people to not receive the help they need and deserve. I'm here to tell you that helping that person is infinitely more important than them being happy with you and still wanting/trying to die. To help someone, sometimes you have to do what you know is right as opposed to what they want you to do. Helping people isn't about telling them what they want to hear, it's about actually helping them. If the only way you can help someone is to call or message a family member or, if it's too late for that, calling 9-1-1, you have to do that. I don't mean to run to a family member or call 9-1-1 the second someone says “Bad day, I hate this,” because that's only going to cause more problems, but if someone is threatening to take their life, they need help.
I will never regret the times I contacted family members, even though both times it wasn't accepted by the one needing help. I will always stand by my decision and I truly hope that by doing so, those people are able to get help. They deserve it. I also hope that, when faced with a similar situation, you all can find the courage to do the same.
Stay Alive,
Lindsey
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