Fear can be debilitating and can be rooted in feelings there’s no one that will understand, that they are the only ones that feel as they do, or not knowing what resources are available. Fear is thinking there is no help out there, it can be crippling.

I’ve had conversations that ended with “I had no idea” or “if I had known what was out there I would have reached out earlier”. It can be difficult to understand why this is the case, unless you are in that headspace. It can be a fog, so many things coming at you and not knowing what is out there for you. We’ve come a long way in Canada with how we view mental illness and there is so much more work to be done. Our mental health is so important.

How can it be easier? There is no magic pill when you’re in crises, but the following can help:

• Have a safety plan. Create a journal that can be carried with you with contact numbers and calming techniques when you are in a moment of crises.
• Reach out to crises text lines such as 686868 when family and friends are unavailable.
• Remember skills you have learned, box breathing, grounding techniques, etc.
• Repeat to yourself that you deserve to be heard and understood.

Hope this helps.