Teens, It's Time to Speak Up: Overcoming the Fear of Asking for Help

Why Do We Struggle To Ask For Help? 

Imagine you're stuck in a room filled with smoke and you aren't able to navigate your way out. You're struggling to breathe and the room feels like it's going to collapse in on itself. But you don't ask anyone for help because you fear that you'll be seen as 'weak' or 'incapable'. You know that if you just called out to someone, asked anyone to help you get yourself out of the room, it would all be fine. But you don't. 

Doesn't that sound like stupidity? Choosing to suffocate in the burning room just so someone's perception of you doesn't lessen? 

This may sound absurd but it is exactly what so many of us do. We’d rather keep silent, suffocating under the weight of our struggles, than risk being seen as vulnerable or weak. It’s a part of the teen experience—society teaches us that we need to be independent, self-sufficient, and resilient now that we're growing into young adults. Asking for help feels like admitting that we’re not strong enough to handle things on our own. 

We might fear judgment, or worse, we might think we don’t deserve the help. We see other people dealing with their own problems and think, "They can handle it. Why can’t I?" The thing is, asking for help doesn’t make us weaker—it makes us human.

So  why do we keep pushing ourselves to stay silent, even when we know help could make a difference? It's almost like we’ve been trained to believe that asking for help somehow makes us less capable, less strong. But here's the thing: nobody expects us to have all the answers. We’re still figuring things out, and that’s okay.

It's time to challenge the idea that we have to handle everything alone. Reaching out for help isn't a sign of weakness; it's strength in disguise. It takes courage to admit when you're struggling and even more courage to let someone in. The sooner we understand that needing help is not the same as being broken, the easier it will be to break free from that suffocating room and find our way to a healthier, more supported version of ourselves.

So, whether it’s talking to your friends, journaling, practicing mindfulness, doing a bit of creative expression, or even going for a walk to clear your mind—don’t hesitate to reach out for help in whatever way works for you. You can talk to a trusted adult, join a support group, or even engage in activities that help you release some stress, like playing music or doing something you enjoy. It might feel difficult at first, but remember that no one is meant to do this alone. Reach out, ask for support, and allow yourself the space to heal and grow. You’re stronger than you think, and sometimes, asking for help is the first step to realizing that power. 

Strength lies in numbers. If we all make a stand to stand up and speak out for ourselves, we will be heard. Together, we can create a space where it's okay to lean on each other, because we’re all in this together.