{"id":118833,"date":"2020-05-05T11:00:44","date_gmt":"2020-05-05T10:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/?p=118833"},"modified":"2023-03-09T17:59:23","modified_gmt":"2023-03-09T17:59:23","slug":"reaching-out-support","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/reaching-out-support.htm","title":{"rendered":"Reaching Out Hard? 12 Keys to Getting Support"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"attachment_118838\" style=\"width: 410px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/wp-content\/uploads\/45764985355_48267b7d70.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-118838\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-118838\" src=\"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/wp-content\/uploads\/45764985355_48267b7d70-400x265.jpg\" alt=\"reaching out\" width=\"400\" height=\"265\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/wp-content\/uploads\/45764985355_48267b7d70-400x265.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/wp-content\/uploads\/45764985355_48267b7d70-180x120.jpg 180w, https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/wp-content\/uploads\/45764985355_48267b7d70.jpg 499w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-118838\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">By: Nikita Nikiforov<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333399;\">by Andrea M. Darcy<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><strong>Read advice that tells you that if you feel low, just \u2018reach out\u2019?<\/strong> But attempts you have made (if any) have gone poorly and left you feeling bad?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Reaching out is a skill that not all of us learned<\/strong> as a child or were encouraged to do. On a good note, skills are things we can learn.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><em><span class=\"s1\">So how can you more easily and effectively reach out for support?\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333399;\">[Need support immediately and nobody to talk to? See the NHS list of free and confidential helplines in the UK <a style=\"color: #333399;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nhs.uk\/mental-health\/nhs-voluntary-charity-services\/charity-and-voluntary-services\/get-help-from-mental-health-helplines\/\">here<\/a>].\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Preparing yourself to be a person who accepts support<\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"s1\" style=\"color: #993366;\">1. Recognise the beliefs you have about support.\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><strong>If we <a href=\"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/shame-definition.htm\">feel ashamed<\/a> or afraid to ask for support, it means we<\/strong> have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/how-to-change-your-core-beliefs.htm\">unhealthy hidden beliefs<\/a> about it. These can look like: <\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">only weak \/stupid people ask for help<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">it\u2019s not \u2018manly\u2019 to ask, or makes you &#8216;needy&#8217;<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">You <a href=\"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/low-self-worth.htm\">aren\u2019t worthy<\/a> of help <\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/feeling-let-down.htm\">people only let you down<\/a>. <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"p1\"><em><span class=\"s1\">Let yourself <a href=\"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/how-to-use-a-self-help-journal.htm\">journal<\/a> about support. What comes up? For each of the beliefs you find you have ask yourself, is this really true? What might be true instead?\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\" style=\"color: #993366;\">2. Find proof you DO know how to ask for help.\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<div id=\"attachment_118839\" style=\"width: 410px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-118839\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-118839\" src=\"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/wp-content\/uploads\/7678960512_5f04ffd410-400x267.jpg\" alt=\"reaching out\" width=\"400\" height=\"267\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/wp-content\/uploads\/7678960512_5f04ffd410-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/wp-content\/uploads\/7678960512_5f04ffd410-180x120.jpg 180w, https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/wp-content\/uploads\/7678960512_5f04ffd410.jpg 499w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-118839\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">By: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/macrj\/7678960512\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer\" \">Rory MacLeod<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">If we are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/what-is-counterdependency.htm\">counterdependent<\/a>, <strong>we can convince ourselves we never ask for help<\/strong>. We aren&#8217;t the type.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><strong>But at some point we\u2019ve all received support. And recognising your past successes<\/strong> is a way to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/what-is-perspective.htm\">change your perspective<\/a> about your own talent to do so.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><em><span class=\"s1\">Make a list of any situation where you accepted help, from little things like letting someone drive you somewhere, to bigger things, like a relative who gave you money for school.\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\" style=\"color: #993366;\">3. Learn to recognise the RIGHT people to reach out to.\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><strong>If you had had very bad luck in the past, it might be that you <\/strong>have a tendency to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/self-sabotage.htm\">self sabotage<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\" style=\"color: #333399;\">This looks like asking the very people who are most likely to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/feeling-let-down.htm\">let you down<\/a> for help, instead of the ones who would be happy to listen or care.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"p1\"><em><span class=\"s1\">Think of all the people you know. Who<a href=\"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/personal-values-know-yours.htm\"> shares your values<\/a>? And who is known for helping others, or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/trusting-others-hard.htm\">being trustworthy<\/a>? Has anyone been a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/advanced-listening-skills.htm\">good listener<\/a> already? Who should quite honestly be crossed of the list for good?\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\" style=\"color: #993366;\">4. Know what you actually want.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><strong>If we aren&#8217;t the sort who<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/how-to-listen-to-yourself.htm\">knows our thoughts or feelings<\/a>, or how to ask for things? We can call someone, and end up waffling or changing subject, or even asking for what we DON&#8217;T want (we want to be listened to only, but go and<a href=\"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/giving-advice-in-relationships.htm\"> ask for advice<\/a>). <\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><span style=\"color: #333399;\">Afterwards we feel letdown. And we blame the other person. How could they not see what we need? Or understand us? We promise never to ask for help again. We don&#8217;t want to see that we are the one who has to make our needs clear, and ask for what we want<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"p1\"><em><span class=\"s1\">If there was a genie who would never judge you, and you could ask for anything, what would it be?\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"p1\"><em><span class=\"s1\">To be listened to? <\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\"><em><span class=\"s1\">To just pass the time and feel <a href=\"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/7-surprising-reasons-feeling-lonely.htm\">less lonely<\/a>? <\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\"><em><span class=\"s1\">Someone to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/laughter-does-it-really-improve-your-psychological-health.htm\">make you laugh<\/a>?\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\"><em><span class=\"s1\">Or do you need some attention, or even praise? <\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\"><em><span class=\"s1\">Do you want to admit the crazy thoughts in your head?<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Someone to listen to you rant and not interrupt or judge?\u00a0<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #993366;\">5. Challenge the idea that you are always rejected.\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"color: #800080;\">People are actually more likely to help than not. A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gsb.stanford.edu\/faculty-research\/publications\/if-you-need-help-just-ask-underestimating-compliance-direct-requests\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">study from Stanford University<\/span><\/a> published in the\u00a0<em>Journal of Personality and Social Psychology <\/em>found that people &#8220;underestimated by as much as 50% the likelihood that others would agree to a direct request for help&#8221;.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>If we always get rejected by others, it can be because we are actually unconsciously pushing people <\/strong>to reject us. And it&#8217;s about learning to ask in a calm, open way instead of:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>asking for help in a hostile, bossy way<\/li>\n<li>prefacing our ask with negativity, such as, &#8220;I&#8217;m sure you don&#8217;t want to help, but&#8230;&#8221;<\/li>\n<li>blaming them in our request &#8220;you never want to listen, but I need support&#8221;.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Or, again, it could be that we always ask the wrong people.\u00a0<\/strong> And are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/toxic-friends-what-to-do.htm\">surrounding ourselves with people who aren&#8217;t really &#8216;friends&#8217; at al<\/a>l.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333399;\">[Is this point hitting home? Go read our article, &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/the-private-hell-of-rejection-why-does-it-keep-happening-to-you.htm\">Why Rejection Keeps Happening to You<\/a>&#8220;.]<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>The day you are reaching out<\/h2>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #993366;\">1. Be sure this is the right time for you.\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Feeling so incredibly fragile not sure you can handle a single piece of well-intentioned advice? If it&#8217;s going to make you feel worse not better, it&#8217;s okay to delay and decision to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/reach-out-to-someone.htm\">reach out<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\" style=\"color: #993366;\">2. Get emotions out first.<\/span><\/h3>\n<div id=\"attachment_118840\" style=\"width: 410px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/wp-content\/uploads\/2192652947_597f0b9e9e.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-118840\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-118840\" src=\"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/wp-content\/uploads\/2192652947_597f0b9e9e-400x265.jpg\" alt=\"asking for support\" width=\"400\" height=\"265\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/wp-content\/uploads\/2192652947_597f0b9e9e-400x265.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/wp-content\/uploads\/2192652947_597f0b9e9e.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/wp-content\/uploads\/2192652947_597f0b9e9e-180x120.jpg 180w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-118840\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">By: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/64738468@N00\/2192652947\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer\" \">mario<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">When we are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/anger-issues-signs.htm\">full of rage<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/crying-for-no-reason.htm\">crying our eyes out<\/a>, it\u2019s hard for people to hear what we are asking for. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><strong>Or, worse, we can inadvertently<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/psychological-projection-are-you-making-everyone-else-responsible.htm\">turn our emotions on them<\/a>, and end up upsetting the very person we want to connect with.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/how-to-use-a-self-help-journal.htm\">Journal<\/a>, punch a pillow, rant out loud,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/how-to-exercise-more.htm\"> go for a long, hard run<\/a>&#8230; whatever works to help you feel neutral and calm. Make that call when you feel a five out of ten or less on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/what-is-emotional-dsyregulation.htm\">emotional volatility<\/a> scale.\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #800080;\">[**note that if you <a href=\"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/feeling-suicidal-or-like-self-harming-techniques-to-stop-distress.htm\">feel suicidal<\/a>, or like you will hurt yourself or someone else, none of this applies. Reach out for help immediately. Call emergency services, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/mental-health-helpline.htm\">help line<\/a>, or someone you trust.]<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\" style=\"color: #993366;\">3. If you feel afraid or nervous, keep going. <\/span><\/h3>\n<blockquote>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><span style=\"color: #333399;\">No matter how much you\u2019ve prepared, if reaching out for support is new for you, you are going to feel uncomfortable and even afraid. And that\u2019s okay.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><strong>It\u2019s like the famous book by<\/strong> Susan Jeffers says\u2026 \u2018feel the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/feeling-of-fear.htm\">fear<\/a> and do it anyway\u201d. Or the embarrassment, or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/shame-definition.htm\">shame<\/a>, or whatever it is. <\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\" style=\"color: #993366;\">4. Ask first. <\/span><\/h3>\n<blockquote>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\" style=\"color: #800080;\">If in the past reaching out for support has gone wrong, leaving you feeling rejected? It might be that you surprised someone at a bad time. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><strong>There is some wisdom to<\/strong> sending a text or email first. \u201cAre you around to chat? I don\u2019t need advice, I just need someone to hold the space as I rant about a bad experience I had this week. I\u2019d really appreciate it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #993366;\">5. Don&#8217;t take it personally if someone says no.\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>People have lives. They might have had an emergency, or actually be busy like they said. Just ask when is a good time.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"color: #333399;\">If they say they can&#8217;t be of assistance at this time, remember that they might be having their own difficulties at the moment. It probably isn&#8217;t personal.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h3 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\" style=\"color: #993366;\">6. Communicate as clearly as possible. <\/span><\/h3>\n<div id=\"attachment_118841\" style=\"width: 410px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-118841\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-118841\" src=\"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/wp-content\/uploads\/42773436584_1015eb5f0f-400x267.jpg\" alt=\"reaching out\" width=\"400\" height=\"267\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/wp-content\/uploads\/42773436584_1015eb5f0f-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/wp-content\/uploads\/42773436584_1015eb5f0f-180x120.jpg 180w, https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/wp-content\/uploads\/42773436584_1015eb5f0f.jpg 499w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-118841\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">By: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/stockcatalog\/42773436584\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer\" \">Stock Catalog<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><strong>Breathe,<\/strong> take your time. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong><span class=\"s1\">If words aren&#8217;t coming out right, just be honest that it&#8217;s hard for you to ask for support.<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"s1\"> \u201cBear with me, reaching out for help is new for me.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><strong>Then continue slowly, keeping sentences starting with<\/strong> \u2018I\u2019 (I feel\/I want) and not veering into \u2018you\u2019 (are you really listening? You don\u2019t really want to help, do you\u2026). Note that the latter is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/why-we-put-the-blame-on-others.htm\">blame<\/a>, and it\u2019s the easiest way to push someone away. <\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\" style=\"color: #993366;\">7. Be grateful.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><strong>Giving and receiving are two sides of the same coin.<\/strong> The other person gets to feel useful, to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/connecting-with-people.htm\">feel connected<\/a>, to share advice. So you don\u2019t have to end the conversation feeling embarrassed. Just say thank you, and offer your support in kind should they need it. <\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"p1\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span class=\"s1\">When in doubt, start with a stranger. <\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<blockquote>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\" style=\"color: #333399;\">If you really can\u2019t ask for support from someone you know, then don\u2019t. There is nothing wrong with asking for help from strangers. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><strong>This can be a forum, although asking for help from others who<\/strong> are feeling unstable themselves isn\u2019t always the best case scenario. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><strong>So better yet consider a<\/strong> help line. A trained volunteer who is happy to listen and is unbiased can be a great support (read our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/mental-health-helpline.htm\">list of help lines in the UK<\/a>).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"p1\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\">Try, try again.\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><strong>What if it doesn&#8217;t work out?<\/strong> Yes, it will feel bad. You might feel <a href=\"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/how-to-handle-rejection.htm\">rejected<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/why-do-i-feel-hopeless.htm\">hopeless<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong><span class=\"s1\">But it\u2019s no proof of anything other than that you had a moment of bad luck, or caught someone at an unforeseen bad moment. <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">So let the thoughts that you are \u2018beyond help\u2019 or \u2018nobody cares\u2019 dance through your head all they want. Do not let it stop you from trying again.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #800080;\">Want support from someone who is unbiased, doesn&#8217;t judge, and really &#8216;gets it&#8217;? Book a session with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/therapists.htm\">a top London therapist<\/a> now. Or use <a href=\"https:\/\/harleytherapy.com\/?utm_source=Harley%20Therapy%20Blog&amp;utm_content=Post%20End\"><span style=\"color: #333399;\">our booking platform<\/span><\/a> to find <a href=\"https:\/\/harleytherapy.com\/?utm_source=Harley%20Therapy%20Blog&amp;utm_content=Post%20End\"><span style=\"color: #333399;\">affordable online registered therapists<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333399;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-117271 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/wp-content\/uploads\/headshot-yellow-397x400.png\" alt=\"Andrea Blundell\" width=\"137\" height=\"138\" \/>Andrea M. Darcy is a mental health and wellbeing writer and expert. She is also extremely independent has always found asking for support a struggle! Find her @am_darcy<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>by Andrea M. Darcy Read advice that tells you that if you feel low, just \u2018reach out\u2019? But attempts you have made (if any) have gone poorly and left you feeling bad? Reaching out is a skill that not all of us learned as a child or were encouraged to do. On a good note, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":118841,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_lmt_disableupdate":"yes","_lmt_disable":"no","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[379,263],"class_list":["post-118833","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-depression","tag-relationships","tag-support","has_thumb"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.0 (Yoast SEO v27.0) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Reaching Out Hard? 12 Keys to Getting Support - Harley Therapy\u2122 Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Is reaching out for support hard? Tried before and it went badly? Or feel to ashamed or embarrassed to try? You need this guide\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/reaching-out-support.htm\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Reaching Out Hard? 12 Keys to Getting Support\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Is reaching out for support hard? Tried before and it went badly? Or feel to ashamed or embarrassed to try? 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Darcy","author_link":"#"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"by Andrea M. Darcy Read advice that tells you that if you feel low, just \u2018reach out\u2019? But attempts you have made (if any) have gone poorly and left you feeling bad? Reaching out is a skill that not all of us learned as a child or were encouraged to do. 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