#1 You WILL feel awkward and that’s ok.

When you share something that you’ve kept hidden, it will feel uncomfortable and awkward and scary. Take your time. Just because something feels different or new to you, doesn’t mean it's not the right thing to do. It may feel unfamiliar and painful as you navigate sharing for the first time, but with the right support around you – it gets easier.

#2 You are NOT alone

You are unique in your story and nobody will ever be able to entirely know how you feel, but you are not alone in your struggle. Suffering in silence can make us feel like we’re the only person that didn’t get the memo about how to cope. The beauty of sharing is realising that everybody has been through difficulty at some point in their life and it’s ok not to be ok all of the time.

# Comparative suffering SUCKS

No problem is too small for support. If it’s real for you, it’s real. Considering all the other ways that other people have it worse does nothing to support your situation. Your feelings are valid, and you can feel equal amounts of gratitude and suffering in life – it doesn’t make you any less worthy of help.

Our final note is, be patient. It may take more than one conversation, and your support person may not get it right all the time. Your journey may not be linear, but it will be worth it.

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