Adding the Right Touch at a Sensitive Time

The smallest word can inflict the sharpest wound. If you're thinking of swearwords, that's not where I'm going with this.

Crazy.

Wacko.

Psycho.

We've all heard them used to describe people in a derogatory way. They add a layer of judgment that is truly unfair.

If the pandemic's isolation has taught us anything, it should be how every person is susceptible to strained mental health. Sometimes, it's hard to find the right words to express when you feel off-kilter or stressed or so lonely that you don't think you can get through another day.

Expressing yourself to your family or friends is one hard step. First, you want to try to understand what is happening and why, so you go searching for answers on-line. You want to seek out an empathic voice that matches your fuzziness with the interpretation you are seeking.

For several months now, I have been writing articles and textbook chapters about mental health for various clients. As a mental-health struggle-master myself, I know enough to avoid those damaging words and to look at the whole person.

When I see a panhandler talking to an imagined friend, I get that they are filling a void of some kind.

When a friend is low and shoves me aside, I call more regularly until she sounds like herself again.

When a family member says they need help, I help them find it.

Hopefully, more people have become more aware in recent months about how vulnerable some supposedly strong people are when they lose their supports. This pandemic has cost people jobs, economic stability, classroom time and even their lives. It's not fair.

It's also worse if we don't learn from each other and take care of each other. Be careful with your words.

And if you need help urgently, call Canada's Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-833-456-4566.

If you need resources, check out OneHappyBrain.com to see how to help you and your family as the world throws you more curve balls. There are lots of tips and topics to keep yourself healthy before things get dark again.

I hope the words that are posted there can buoy your spirits.