23/03/2025
ARE YOU OK?
Something truly clicked for me the other dayâI now understand why so many people who are struggling with their thoughts and emotions find it so difficult to reach out for help. Instead of asking for support, they withdraw. They suppress their emotions, hoping they can somehow push through and emerge on the other side. But the reality is, when we suppress negative emotions or distressing thoughts, they donât disappearâthey intensify. And when we finally come face-to-face with them, it can feel overwhelming and even terrifying because they reinforce what we already fear to be true.
I know this because, for the past few months, Iâve been there.
Through this experience, Iâve realized that human connection is more important than ever. When relationships slip away under the guise of being âtoo busy,â time moves on, and our true selves become lost in the process. The everyday stories, moments, and shared experiences that once formed the foundation of meaningful relationships fade into distant memories. When we only reconnect with friends or loved ones every six months or once a year, the essence of an authentic relationship is lost. Conversations become surface-level, centred on the present moment rather than the deeper history that strengthens bonds. Without that foundation, friendships and relationships gradually weaken.
For those struggling, this makes reaching out even harder. When the depth of care, trust, and reciprocal authenticity is missing, the fear of being a burden takes over. Itâs not that they donât want to seek supportâitâs that they donât feel they can.
This is why I feel âAre You OK Dayâ is not enough. The people who need to be asked often go unnoticed. If they are asked by someone without a strong, trusted connection, they may not feel safe enough to share their true feelings. However, when you feel that a relationship is truly reciprocalâwhen there is a foundation of trust and consistencyâreaching out feels more natural. It becomes a source of motivation and hope because you know the person on the receiving end is up to date with you. There hasnât been a long gap of time filled with assumptions that everything is fine while life moves forward in its âbusyâ rhythm. Instead, there is an ongoing connection that fosters real understanding and support.
When you build an authentic friendship, there will still be times when life gets in the way. But because you have cultivated a two-way, genuine interest in each otherâs lives, you can always pick up where you left off. It doesnât feel like a chore or an obligation when the phone ringsâit feels like a natural continuation of your bond. Staying in touch, even through a simple phone call, strengthens relationships and triggers emotions that remind us we are valued, heard, and not alone.
To the person on the receiving end of a friendshipâitâs important to recognize that you, too, have a role to play. Itâs not okay to rely on someone else to carry the weight of the relationship. A true connection takes effort from both sides. If you assume the other person will always be the one to reach out, check in, or hold the space for emotional support, you risk letting that bond fade. And when the time comes that you need someone to listenâto truly be there for youâyou may find that the relationship has already disintegrated. The foundation of trust and authenticity has to be built together; otherwise, you might find yourself in the same position as the person struggling to reach out now.
I understand this now, because I have lived it. I know what itâs like to want to reach out but feel like you canât.
If this resonates with youâif you, too, are struggling in silenceâplease know that you are not alone. You are seen, you are valued, and you deserve support. If you feel like no one understands, I do. And I encourage you to reach out, whether itâs to a trusted friend, a loved one, or a professional counsellor. Connection is the first step toward healing, and you are worthy of that support.
You are not a burden. You matter. And help is available when youâre ready. Please share.
