I’ve said this before, but I learn as much for my readers and readers learn in my posts.
One reader, TJ (I remember because that’s also my nickname), wrote back in May, “How do I reach out for help?”
I forget what I said. No, I remember: “Just do it. But don’t expect people to understand once you’ve done it.”
She’s a big teacher to me right now. Because she did exactly what she needed to do—she asked for help. Following her lead, I called my doctor yesterday to report that things were somewhat blue in Beyond Blue’s world.
In a follow-up e-mail, TJ (the other one) wrote me this:

Being in the hospital (for the fourth time) was actually a relief for me. That and the feeling alone-ness before I went in was definitely not cool. I’m thankful for the counselor at school and my awesome therapist who made the time to be with me that bad day in May.
Funny how I answered my own question–How do I reach out for help?—isn’t it? I’ve learned through the years who is a good person to turn to in a crisis, then learned how to turn to them when I needed to the most. I’m proud for solving my problem in a “safe” way—nobody got hurt, especially me!

Congrats, TJ, you’re helping all of us by setting a great example.