Dr. Barton Goldsmith: Don't suffer in silence — it helps to talk to someone

It can be very hard to say what’s happening. Your desire to keep up appearances may not be serving you well here, however. If you hold it all in, you could make yourself physically ill. It is very important to share your experience, both to get an outside perspective and to let out some of the pain. When you hold everything in, you can’t function well.

Sometimes you may feel like a bowling pin: being set up just to get knocked down again. We all have periods in our life when we just can’t seem to get a break. But sharing your experience can make a big difference in how you cope. Talking to someone, even if that person has nothing to do with your situation, can help. Sharing what’s going on can lift some of your emotional burden and may also give you new ideas about how to deal with your problem. These are times when silence is definitely not golden, and holding on to what is bothering you simply isn’t healthy.

Pushing yourself here can be a challenge, but the relief you will get from talking about your problems will make it worth facing your insecurity about sharing. If you can’t find someone to talk with, seeing a professional also is a perfectly acceptable option. In fact, talking with a professional may be better for you; knowing that what you say is completely confidential may make you feel safer. And you may find it easier to talk with someone you don’t know personally. And the 988 Emotional Support Team is one of the best in the world, so maybe give them a call (and it’s free!).

Talking with a few people will help diffuse your suffering and give you some insights into what to do next. We are all faced with challenges in our lives, but sometimes dealing with them all by ourselves is tantamount to torture. Even though it can be frightening to talk with another person, especially about something very personal, it is without a doubt one of the best things you can do to move your life forward again.