A Poem, Note and Video with Helpful Resources

Help Is Present…When You Feel Overwhelmed Or Alone

Helpful notes follow on from this poem…because others have felt like you do, and found their way to a better place

Just as this Hibiscus Flower is experiencing light and shade on it’s petals, us humans go through lighter feeling times, and hard ones as well. Do you ask for help when life becomes challenging? | Photo taken by the author ~ The Positive Poet

If you’re alone & struggling…

Feeling overwhelmed & like nobody cares…

It’s important you know many understand … and they do care

Others have felt like you do

And found their way to a better place

If you reach out for help* it is present…

To walk beside you to your better place

♾️

©The Positive Poet 2023

Hi there, what follows below are notes I’ve put together with the intention of helping if you’re currently struggling... because life has been overwhelming for many people.

Understandably.

On a global level things have been intense these last few years haven’t they

And maybe like me you’ve experienced personal challenges too? Perhaps health, work or relationship issues? Or a loss? Of a person you love dearly? A way of life?

Or peace of mind?

Whatever it is that’s overwhelming you, if you’re not coping as well as you usually do, or would like to, these notes are for you. Especially if:

Others have gently mentioned you’re being grumpy, irritable or snappy. Or you’ve noticed yourself being shouty, harsh or venting (more than you’d like to), and feel guilty after.
You’re pushing yourself in a busy go, go, go way (perhaps it’s an effort to hide your true feelings?). I’ve been there & done it, so promise no judgement.
Or have found yourself deep in despair… losing hope…

Because, perhaps like I used to, you’re feeling a mess behind closed doors, yet are doing your best to hide it to the outside world.

If so please read on for a comprehensive guide to finding help.

* Help can come in many forms, depending on what’s feeling overwhelming

Conventional & Holistic help are both available, and can be effective. Plus we may need specific options as individuals (I touch on this, with information and a video below that could help you find exactly what you need personally).

Because it’s important we each choose who we feel called to reach out to for help, and our options can include, yet aren’t limited to:

Art Therapists
Counsellors
Doctors, Doulas
Eco-Anxiety Therapists / Coaches
Grief Therapists
Health Coaches
Local Mental Health Charities
Massage Therapists, Midwives
Naturopathic Doctors, Nurses / Nurse Practitioners
Occupational Therapists, Osteopaths
Psychologists, Psychotherapists, Physical Therapists / Physiotherapists
Reflexologists, Relationship / Marriage Counsellors, Reiki Masters
Shamanic Practitioners, Somatic Experiencing Therapists
P.T.S.D and Trauma Informed Specialists

And the list can go on…

Lists like the above can seem overwhelming at first glance can’t they, (especially if we’re feeling overwhelmed in life generally).

If we keep it simple though, by making a personal shortlist (when we feel relatively calm), of what meets our needs & appeals most, we can then choose one option that feels like our next best step moving forwards.

Your own list may include options like the ones I listed above, plus other sources of help more appropriate for you.

And it’s worth remembering when we receive effective help in one area of life, other areas tend to improve too.

It’s also important to note some people report they’ve benefited from reaching out ~ especially at times of crisis ~ to ‘metaphysical’ or ‘spiritual’ support figures.

The Universe, God & Angels are sometimes mentioned ~ perhaps you use these terms, or others of your choosing? (They may or may not be related to religion… and vary depending on where you live and what you’ve been taught).

This of course is a very personal choice. One that resonates with some folk, and not at all with others.

When choosing practical help other considerations can include, yet aren’t limited to, whether we’d like to be Anonymous… and Costs involved.

Thankfully there are free of charge & low-cost options available. And some workplaces offer excellent care paid for in full, or partly. Plus some therapists and people who offer help work on sliding-fee scales.

With many sources of help having confidentiality assurances built in.

Popular ways of receiving help are through Books, Apps or Online Courses (sometimes with others, or self-paced can work well).

Maybe these appeal to you?

They’re an effective way of receiving help from others, in my experience, often in a private way.

We can also go down lists like the one below, and consider whether we might prefer:

In-Person Help… perhaps within a Support Group… or One-on-One.
Online or Videocall Services… these are popular nowadays aren't they, also as Support Groups, or One-on-One.
Phone Helplines are useful, especially at times of crisis, and / or for information as well.
Text Messaging Helplines are popular these days (and can be an excellent first step in opening up, and trusting someone with what’s truly going on with you… I used one once, and it was a great help).
Walk-In Services may also be available in our local areas.

As alluded to above, receiving Anonymous or Confidential help is often a priority for people. It has been for me.

Maybe it is for you too?

Especially if it’s the first time you’ve considered reaching out to someone for help…

Hiding true feelings through life’s challenges was an old normal though ~ we’d likely be surprised by the number of folk quietly seeking help these days

Yes, reaching out for help the first time can take courage can’t it. Mainly because we’ve been taught in many places that not coping well ~ and asking for help ~ is a sign of weakness.

This is incorrect though. I believe it takes strength.

And when reaching out for assistance it’s helped me to think of all the times before I’ve been courageous ~ in different areas of life. Because that courage is still within us. And on the other side of asking for help, better times await.

How am I so sure of this? It’s been my personal experience.

Plus that of many others I know too.

So who could you connect with for help if you’re struggling at the moment with something?

And what kind of help do you think you might need most at this time?

I’m going to encourage you to seek it. And if not right now… maybe you’ll consider options and mull the idea over?

How come I’m encouraging you to seek help though?

Well us humans have often dismissed experiences we’ve had as ‘nothing’ haven’t we. Yet I’ve learned they can & do affect us. Plus we tend to wait until reaching a crisis before asking for help (I used to!)… yet by accepting help earlier, I’ve learned I thrive sooner. And with more & more people thriving here our world becomes healthier. For us all. And for our kiddos ~ yours, mine, our nieces and nephews. Grandchildren. And future generations.

It’s also because I’ve needed gentle encouragement sometimes. And believe we all do. On occasions.

None of us are meant to navigate this world entirely alone though are we. We’re meant to give & receive support to one another. It’s how we all thrive here.

It’s likely you’ve given help to many other people in different ways too haven't you. Perhaps it’s been through your work? Or to your family menbers… maybe as a Parent? Perhaps you’ve helped many folk who you’ve met in life generally…

Is now perhaps a time for you to receive some help, instead of giving?

And maybe (if you need a little more encouragement to seek assistance… especially if there’s a tiny glimmer in you thinking it’s what you’re in need of), it helps you to consider when you reach out for help to someone they’ll be delighted. Because often people who assist others have walked the same path before… and they may feel deeply fulfilled by helping you. It could be fulfilling their life purpose…

Showing you a way that’s easier than you going it alone.

Now if the above lists don’t cover exactly what you need, it can be helpful to type an issue we’re struggling with into a search engine. We get to see a range of options then, and simply have to filter through our choices… to find methods and people we’re personally drawn to.

Upbeat people who’ve overcome exact challenges we’re experiencing can be wonderful.
Those who are experts in their field too, maybe with years of experience, or excellent ~ verified ~ testimonials.

Reading ‘About’ pages on people’s websites is how I’ve often chosen support.

Looking at people’s photos, and reading their stories, can be an excellent way to find help we’re in need of can’t it (it worked well for me, when I began exploring Holistic Therapies).

Reading bios and looking at people’s photos on Psychology Today helped me choose someone to try reaching out to (I don’t know if you're aware, however on Psychology Today you can specify the country you’re in, and filter looking for help based on several criteria ~ like the problem you’re having, types of therapy you’re interested in, and more). Now if you’re new to seeking help as I was, Psychology Today also has articles that give us info about different therapies.

Local Professional Registers have also been helpful for me (there are likely ones for your town or City too, for example if you decide to seek help in-person from a Psychologist or Psychotherapist).

It can be helpful as well ~ once we know the kind of assistance we’d like ~ to make a shortlist. I’d suggest narrowing this down to around 3 people you’d like to try connecting with (once I reached out to someone & their waitlist was closed). Therefore if we have a small select number of people in mind, we’re likely to be able to see somebody we’d like to.

Oh… and when first reaching out to ask qusetions, or book appointments, I’ve found it’s completely normal to feel both a sense of relief and some nerves. Maybe you’ve had that too?

When I’ve found something effective though, my nerves tend to ease pretty quickly.

I’ve also learned it’s ok to choose something (say for 3 sessions ~ as that’s usually a good indication of whether the person and method are an excellent fit), and then have a change of mind.

I’ve kept looking until I’ve found what works well at that time.

It’s been well worth it.

So if you’ve received help before and are still struggling, have you also found it’s helpful to try something new… or add something else in to support you even more?

Or maybe, rather than seeking help, your first inclination (like mine) is to drastically increase your self-care and kindness? I included 3 of my tried & tested ways of doing so in ‘Calm Joy’, where I included a helpful checklist ~ NESSTS. What works well for you as healthy self-care ~ rest, time in nature, funny shows? The options are pretty endless and personal to each of us.

Well now I’d like to leave you today with a final piece of gentle encouragement about finding help…

Why not take a moment to listen to the poem ‘Help is Present’ being read out below ~ enjoy a moment of calm ~ and see after if some form of help pops into your mind you’d like to ask for…

P.S. If no help you need is coming to mind right now, feel free to save this Poem and Note or print it to keep handy. Because what I’ve shared is intended to help us long~term, and be referred back to.

P.P.S. And when you’re through this time, in a better place, perhaps you’ll consider giving help to others in future? Paying it forwards is a beautiful way of joining in with the cycle of giving & receiving that will ultimately help us all thrive here.

Let’s look after ourselves first though ~ and ensure we’re receiving the help we all need :)

I’m The Positive Poet (or Posi for short :). If you like what I write, you’re welcome to sign up to receive an email when I share new Poems & Notes.