How can I learn to open up and ask for help?

Question

Im 22 and have been self injuring since I was 13. I cant open up to people and I cant talk about my problems/issues. Help!

Answer 1

Saying that openly on here is a start. Find a counselor (many are free) in a gender you'd feel safest with, and try starting with small steps. Tell them you don't feel comfortable opening up. They know how to help you.

Answer 2

Tell me, how would you feel about counseling? I too, was too
"shy" to ask people for help, until one night I tried to kill myself.
I say tried because I didn't go through with it. Believe it or not -
nothing you say or do is going to surprise them? They have
heard it all - that's what my present counselor told me.
Go to a mental health facility & see about being put on some meds, cause you have alot of anxiety inside you just screaming
to get out - that's why you cut in secret. Did you also know that
cutting releases endorphins that actually make you "feel" good?
That's why so many are hooked on it. I don't know the whole
story, my counselor told me. It's just like getting a 1/2 gallon of
your favorite ice cream & eating it all in one night. You feel good
at the time, but later you are condeming yourself because of what you did. You've been doing this along time. How are your
scars? Are you covering up? I did that. I wore long sleeves even
in the summer. Or I'd say the cat did it. Whatever worked.

Being put on some meds will decrease the anxiety and help you
relax. Talking to a counselor will help you deal with the feelings
deep inside you that are just waiting to be set free. Trust me -
I have been there.

You probably have alot of deep seated issues you need to deal
with and until you do, you will never stop. I know - I have been
in counseling since 1986 and ever time is new. That's life I guess. Try it and see -

Answer 3

I tend to agree with most of these answers - you've taken the first step by asking us for help.

I know how hard it is, keeping things bottled up in side. You want to tell the whole world how you feel, but when you're use to hiding something for so long, it becomes so much harder to let it out.

I can't tell you how to open up or who to talk to - no one can really. You're suffering from a mental disorder, which is ok, hundreds of millions of people do. But since it's in your head, you're the only one that can do something about it and start getting better.

Like I said, I know how you feel. I wish there was something more I could do for you.

Not to long ago, I was able to finally talk about my problems and begin getting help. I've been getting help for some time and right now, I feel pretty good about myself.

Before I was able to open up and ask for help; I didn't feel very good about myself, it got worse and worse every day.

Finally, I opened up to someone, I finally got it out, I was so happy. The only problem was, I woke up in ICU, drugged up and covered in blood, hooked up to heart monitors. I never even thought about trying to hurt myself, let a lone kill myself, it just happened.

Now I have these nasty scars - they remind me of how terrible that day was. I never thought that things would get that bad.

After two days in the hospital - once I was stabilized, I was interviewed by two psychiatrist and they decided to 5150 me. That means that by law, you get locked up in a looney bin for 72 hours because you're a danger to yourself.

That must have been the longest 3 days of my life.

I didn't decide to get help right away. I took a week off of work, went back to life and it happened again a year later.

I guess that's what they call "hitting bottom" and sometimes it takes a lot to get there.

You're facing some really serious issues and I know it's tough. But if you don't force yourself to get help now; you're going to have to suffer for a while to the point where you do "hit bottom", that is, if you survive.

You don't have to suffer anymore. It's up to you.

I hope you get better soon!

Answer 4

You get better at opening up by opening up more; the more you do it the easier it gets. The first step is the hardest. After years of pain, a little momentary rejection won't hurt (that is if you are rejected which is highly unlikely). You are expecting worse than what ACTUALLY will happen (like they will laugh or not listen). Just be bold and that will make you stronger.

Answer 5

The Fact that you admit you need to open up is a very good sign and give your self a tap on the shoulder just for that.

Now I can tell you one thing, the help is out there but there is one thing you need to do ask for it. If you have some one you can talk to tell them you need to see some one , like phyactrist, social worker, therpist if your not happy with the person find a new one but be honest and give it a try.

try talking to your private doc he should help u on that.

Answer 6

You just did didn't you? I think the hardest part about getting help is to admit you have a problem in the first place. now all you need to do is tell someone just like you did on here. Write it down if you have to, somethings are just easier to explain on paper. You could start by keeping a journal and when you find someone you can trust ask them to read it.

Answer 7

You need to ask yourself this question. If you don't open up and talk to someone than you will keep going through the same thing day after day, and maybe one day you might decide to do something worse. So you really need to decide to open up and let someone that you trust help you. It does get easier. I promise. God Bless.

Answer 8

This is a very good blog, a beginner’s guide to abnormal psychology.
Short, clear and simple; and you can even post your question and contact the author regarding particular subject you are interested in, FREE

http://sensitive-psychoworld.blogspot.com/

Answer 9

do u trust people to open up to..... do u have someone close that u trust to open up to that the best way to start