What to say
to someone dealing with
any of these:
Anxiety: This too shall pass, even if that sounds corny and
cliche. Your anxiety will subside, you are not dying, you will
not die from this, everything is going to be fine. Keep taking
deep breaths, try and stay focused.
Depression: You are valid and your emotions are valid. You are a
good, strong person, even if you don't feel like you are
right now. Things DO get better, and I know you can get through
this.
Sexual Orientation: Your body, your life, your bedroom. You
choose what you do with it, and I get no say in the matter,
because I am not you. I'll respect you no matter what.
Bipolar: The sun also rises. For all your bad days, weeks, or
longer-- you also have good ones just beyond the horizon. You
know better than anyone what it means to finally hit those
"highs" in your life, and I hope that you just keep
growing and strengthening yourself through your treatment to
extend those happy moments.
Self harm: This is your body and I'll never pass judgement
over you for the things you choose to do with it. However, you
should really consider speaking with a counselor about this. Not
because you're "bad", but because I just want you
to be safe.
Eating disorders: It's okay to eat, you have permission.
Eating will not make you fat, ugly, or worthless. Eating will
make you strong, healthy, and lively. You deserve to eat, you
deserve happiness.
Abuse: What they did was
wrong, and you had no consenting part in it. You have no need to
feel guilty or shamed, although I understand that may be exactly
how you are feeling right now. They're the ones at fault
here, and the ball is entirely in your court if you choose to
report them for that, which you are rightfully entitled to
do.
Suicide: Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.
You are valuable and your existence is valuable. There are
billions of people on this planet, and even if you think everyone
hates you and no one cares, they do and they will. You can find
so many friends and loved ones if you just allow yourself the
time to look for them. The world turns out to be a beautiful
place and you deserve to be alive to see that.
Sexual assault: What they did was vile and disgusting. Yes,
you're now left with this horrible, traumatic event to move
on from, but your life is not entirely lost. Recovery is
possible, and an unfortunately large number of people have to go
through that-- but they make it to the other side. So can you,
you can do this. You're not dirty, you're not a
"sl/u/t" or a "wh/re", you are a human being
whose rights were violated. But you are strong, and I know you
can move past this in due time.
Multiple Personality Disorder: I'll always love you no matter
who you are. I only hope the absolute best for you during your
recovery and treatment, and maybe one day I'll be so
privileged as to love you as one whole.
Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder: The pain of suddenly reliving horrific events is almost
unimaginable for me. Please try and remember that although it
feels like it's real and it's happening right now, that
it's not. You are okay, you are fine, and you are safe. You
are in the present here and now, and that past can't manifest
itself again to come and physically hurt you. Everything is just
fine, these feelings will pass and you're going to be
okay.
Schizophrenia: I am real and I can promise you that. I care. Try
and find something grounding for you, an object that you can
cling to to help you distinguish between whether or not
you're hallucinating. You are not a freak, you are not a
monster. You're a human being with rights and emotions who
happens to be ill right now.