What not to say

A couple of days ago I found this picture on facebook. It's one of the best things that can describe what you shouldn't say to someone that has a mental health problem. Honestly, I've heard most of them.

When you say this to someone you're not helping them at all. You might even think you are, but you're not. This only makes people feel worse. I know that everything in there might be true but you saying that to me will not change anything. Anything at all. And if those words come from people you're close with, it's even worse. You do not expect that someone you know from work will get what you're going through, but when these words come from someone in your family or friends it will make you feel like no one gets you and it will make you feel even more lonely and abandoned. I already live with most of these words in my head. Saying them to me it's only going to make me think even more about them and in the end it's only going to make me feel worse because I will think about them even more and more. And when someone says something like this to me I'm going to think they are right and I'm going to make of this a snowball/a vicious circle.

Please never say this to someone you care about. And even if that someone is not close to you do not say it. If you can't say nothing nice don't say nothing at all. If you care about someone that's going through this you don't need to say nothing at all. Just be there for them. Show that you care. Do stuff with them or just be with them, Keep them company. Watch a movie with them. Be there for them. I think that's the nicest thing you can do. We don't need to hear all the time that you care about us or that you're worried about us. We need to feel that. And to show that actions are better than words. I'm thankful that everytime I need a friend I have one. And that's all I need. That's all my friends can do for me. Be there for me. Distract me when they see I'm going through a bad day. When I'm crying I don't need to be asked why I'm crying all the time, I need someone that can make me smile, that can distract me from the thoughts in my head. That can make me laugh again. I know I'm crying and I don't like it so asking me why I'm crying (even though I know some people come from a good place) will not make me feel better.

Remember, just be there. Show you care. Show them they matter to you. We just need to know that there's someone out there that cares about us and that we matter for someone.