The Power of Asking for Help: My Journey to Self-Care

Hey there, I’m Claire, and I’ve been on quite a journey over the past year. I’ve been running River Holistic for a decade now, and I’ve been self-employed in the holistic therapies world for over 20 years. I’m also a proud mother of two amazing boys and have the support of a loving husband. My business has been thriving, and I feel blessed to have kept River Holistic’s doors open despite the challenges of the past few years. But today, I want to share a different side of my story – one that emphasizes the incredible power of asking for help.

As a therapist, I’ve spent years giving advice on self-care and well-being to others. I’ve helped countless people find balance and inner peace. However, in the past year, I realized that I had forgotten how to listen to my own advice. I’m 44 years old, and during this time, I discovered something about myself that I never knew before – I have ADHD and ASD. These revelations answered many questions I didn’t even know I had about myself.

Seeking help for myself has been a personal and quiet journey. I’ve grappled with questions like, “Who do I tell?” and “Do I need to apologize to anyone, including myself, for my past?” I’ve experienced emotions that I couldn’t quite put into words and didn’t know how to process. But through it all, my journey toward self-care has only just begun, and it’s become clear that taking care of myself is essential for the well-being of those around me.

I’ve taken important steps along the way. I’m seeing a therapist who understands my unique needs, I’m on medication that helps me manage my conditions, and most importantly, I’ve started openly admitting when I’m not okay. It’s a powerful shift in perspective to acknowledge that you need help, and it’s the first step in learning the tools to make yourself smile again.

If you’re on a similar quiet journey, let me tell you that even the smallest whisper to the right people, saying you’re not okay and you need help, can become the loudest voice in your head when you’re ready to hear it. It’s easy to get lost in the world of social media, where everyone seems to be wearing a smile and using filters to hide their struggles. But beneath those filters, we’re all human, and we all have our battles.

The power of asking for help goes beyond what words can express. It’s about reaching out to those who care, finding the right support, and acknowledging that it’s okay not to be okay. It’s about embarking on a journey of self-discovery and self-care, because when you take care of yourself, you can be a better partner, parent, and friend.

So, if you’re going through a tough time or struggling with your own challenges, remember that you’re not alone. Reach out, speak up, and let your whispers become the powerful voice that leads you to a brighter, happier, and healthier future. Your well-being matters, and asking for help is a courageous step toward a better you.