Steph's Story: Learning to Lean on Friends

I don't think it is always easy for friends and family to know how to support you when you are going through a really bad patch with your mental health.

I know that for me, personally, I find it pretty hard to lean on friends and family when things get really bad, I don't know what it is exactly, perhaps shame, perhaps fear of being judged and thought of as 'strange'.

I have made the mistake of heavily leaning on my partner when things have been bad for me in the last few years. This has put a real strain on our relationship, but I am happy to say that we have come through that and I honestly think we are stronger as a couple for having survived it.

I have suffered with mental health problems since I was about 19 (I am now 33) and it has taken me a long time to learn to reach out to friends and family. This is partly because in the past I struggled to do so, but also because a few friends in the past didn't want to know, and I understand why, but it hurts like hell.

Luckily now I know who my real friends are and they are the ones who are there no matter what, they are the ones who can tell just by being with me for a minute where I am at mentally and emotionally. I don't even need to say. I feel lucky to have these sorts of friends and of course it's two-way, I put into the friendship as much as they do. I also really appreciate my family being there for me.

I know that sometimes they don't have the ability to make everything better, but I know that they love and care about me and just want me to be 'ok'.