Sometimes the hardest part of getting help is convincing yourself that it is okay to ask. This story follows a student who sat outside a counselor’s office, wrestling with the voice that said asking for support meant weakness. What happened after was not a perfect fix, but it was a start -- proof that taking that first step can shift things, even if it feels uncomfortable at first.

Pen Name or Anonymous: anonymous
Age & Location: 17

one morning i went to talk to my counselor because i was falling behind in two classes and was barely sleeping. i wasn’t fine, but i was trying to act like i was.

as i was waiting outside her office, my brain kept saying, “this is dumb, you don’t need this, you’ll look weak.” but i went in anyway. i told her i was feeling really overwhelmed and didn’t know what to do anymore. she said i was probably dealing with stress, burnout, and maybe some anxiety. she was calm and nice, but honestly, i felt kind of embarrassed.

after, i kept thinking, “why did I say all that?” it felt like i’d exposed way too much about myself. i felt awful for a few days. but later that week, she helped me talk to two of my teachers. they gave me a little more time on stuff, and i started seeing one of the school’s psychiatrists to help me with things i was struggling with.

it wasn’t magic, but it helped. i still get a little uncomfortable thinking about that first talk, though.

If you are in a similar situation:

if you ever ask for help and it feels weird or you regret it, that doesn’t mean it was the wrong thing to do. in the end, everything will come together, as long as you take that first step. it was difficult for me, but i don’t regret talking to my counselor at all.