Are you asking for help when needed? And how?

I've realised I'm having issues with asking for help when in need. I do talk about being depressed with some of my friends, sometimes, but almost never ask for help when in crisis - feeling very down, self harming, suicidal.
I can't imagine contacting them, telling them that I feel the urge to SH or have suicidal thoughts.

Do you find it difficult to ask for help when in need? If you do ask for help, who do you talk to and how you do it?

I find it difficult to ask loved ones (family, friends) for help. But when I need help I have no problem at all with reaching out to professionals, support groups, etc. I'm really persistent when it comes to reaching out. I call on the phone or show up in person.

I have a hard time asking for help on everyday tasks. I have a hard time hiding it when I'm S. I reach out to my family and to a crisis line via text. I just right out say I'm S. Are you having a hard time reaching out?

Yep. My country does not have suice hotline. My family sucks. My friend.... I only have one good friend, but I barely meet her due to schedule.

The only one that truly understand me is people in PC, but it's online community. Sometimes, I wish to talk directly in real life too.

When it comes down to it..I feel ashamed to ask for help..maybe that's an aftereffect of an emotionally neglected upbringing, low self esteem, and consistent failures in my relationships with others. I can count on one hand the people that are willing to help, but they have their own battles to fight, and I can't put that on them.
In the end, I just jam yet another rock in my ruck, because the hits just keep on coming, and I have quite literally no choice but to try to address the critical functions of trying to find work and a place to sleep at night.

I do find it difficult to ask for help because of a combination of not wanting to burden other people with my problems and not feeling deserving of their help. I am also ashamed of how much I've failed in life. I feel like I should be much, much stronger and better by now.

Anyway I hope you're safe OP. Hugs to you.

I don't feel like it's a problem to ask for professional help. I do have problems asking my husband to help, though. He has MS and it can be aggravated by stress, so I try to keep things to myself. It doesn't always work, though--I guess I don't have that poker face, so everything I feel is in plain sight.

Hi Subtle Lights I am very similar to you I think.

I have friends who know how bad things have got at different times. I have a few very close friends who know I have reached the brink of S and one who know's SH is a part of my life. All of them have made it clear I can call on them or tell them if I'm struggling or feeling S or SH. Yet still on the days I hit that point I can't do it. I can't say. I can't reach out at the very time I know I should. I think it's because I imagine what they're doing - like are they in the middle of visiting their parents or having lunch or on a date or having a cosy night in with their partners/family....and then they get that kind if call or msg from me?....and I just can't do it.

The problem I have is when I don't know I need the help.

Yes, sometimes I don't know either. Actually I got used to doing everything myself that I feel like I should just handle everything alone. But lately I'm trying to maybe communicate my needs more. Just don't know when to do it. Like, what does "crisis" mean? When does it begin? It's hard to describe.

Yes, this sounds familiar to me. Or I'm thinking how to formulate something I've never told them before. I would just somehow make it sound less serious or add a stupid joke to lighten up the mood...

Pinpointing the exact time crisis is beginning is undefinable bc it is different for everyone. Indicators you are going into crisis though include when you start isolating yourself almost all the time if not all the time, can think of no good reason to live (or if homicidal - to let someone else live), find yourself plotting out methods, finding ways to make it "easier", and really don't want anyone to try to stop you anymore... Those are indicators. You don't need to present all of them to be in crisis, and there may be symptoms unique to you as well. (For me, when I get into crisis I start thinking of my mom more)

I understand completely.

Hi,
It's not that I have difficulty asking for help for me its a question of there being no one around to ask. All I have left is my elderly Mother who suffers from anxiety, ptsd, depression and a lot of times when I try to talk to her she just doesn't know what to say to me. She will say something like well what does your therapist say? I used to talk with my Father when he was alive but he is no longer around. No friends to speak of cause they've passed away, so I pretty much call the veterans hotline for military members I left the military for awhile now.
For me I've had to really shop around for a good therapist. I've only recently found one after much research and she seems like she is good.
Then I just take it one day at a time as corny & trite as that sounds. It isn't easy. Your very fortunate to have your friends b/c good friends seem so hard to come by these days. Don't isolate yourself if I were you I would talk to them.
Please start to reach out b/c staying by yourself isn't real good for your mental health.
Try calling your local crisis line in your area when you need to talk. For me the crisis would always seem to hit me around the wee hours like 1AM-5AM due to my weird sleep schedule.
I can relate on the watching of the Netflix & YouTube.
You'll be alright.

I have called hotlines before. They are helpful. And I most usually feel better and heard after. Sometimes my mom helps. Other times I have posted here. I don't usually talk to friends about it. Some have proved to be bad friends due to me talking to them. So now I'm scared to talk to any friend. Plus, I don't have those kinds of friends.

Note: I used to be really hesitant to call a hotline. I think because it would make my problem more real. Plus, social anxiety. But it's what they're there for.