You did the right thing: you asked for help.

You were overwhelmed by your threenager, and called a friend to babysit so you could take a walk. You were tempted by a leftover painkiller, so you asked your sister to take the pills out of the house. You noticed the warning signs of a manic episode, and you called your doctor for a consultation. Your antidepressants caused unpleasant side effects, but you stuck out the recommended trial period.

But. Your friend was busy. Your sister made an unfunny joke about your addiction. Your doctor was booked six-weeks out. The antidepressants simply didn’t work.

The thing is, getting help is the best thing we can do for our well-being, and yet it might not work the first time out. Or the second. Or even the third. It’s a cruel irony that when we feel most vulnerable we still might need to persevere through some false starts. Keep in mind: everyone needs support from time to time to weather life’s storms. Fortunately, as human beings, we are hard-wired for community. In asking someone to help you, you may actually be giving them an opportunity to do something that makes them feel good. Helping one another builds community.

So ask. Keep asking. And while some number of disappointments are inevitable, you will eventually find people/places/programs that actually do make things better. Here are a few questions to consider that might help others help you…

Read full article and Strong Moms News Volume 15 for free here!