Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “fine.” Use it any way you’d like, bonus points if you use it as the last word of your post. Have fun!
For details on how to take part and where to leave your link visit Linda's site here.
Come on then, hands up how many of you, when asked the question "How are you?" say "Fine thanks."
I am definitely guilty of this but there have been many periods in my life when I have been anything but "fine". I think for me that's because I've always been pretty much self-sufficient. I don't find it easy to accept offers of help and asking for help is even harder. But I'm getting better at it.
I've realised that it's ok to admit to not being fine. To admit to needing help and accepting offers of help when made. I have a family member who was anything but fine a while back but they opened up to their situation and are a great advocate for talking about mental health.
We need to talk more. I need to listen to my own advice.
The trouble is, when people ask you the "How are you?" question they are not always ready for a long reply detailing exactly how you feel. All they want is a quick response in a positive way. Often we're too busy to delve into things too deeply. But asking how someone feels is seen to be polite. It's what you do.
Plus, admitting we're not fine indicates we might not be coping with life and no one wants to be seen as a failure. But having poor mental health is not a failure. It's a health issue, just like any other.
Yes we can help ourselves by owning up to the problem and reaching out for help but sometimes you're almost at rock bottom before you can bring yourself to do that. It's hard to help someone who doesn't realise or want to accept they need it.
Of course most of the time I still answer "Fine thanks" but there are people who I can be more honest with and responses might be anything from "I'm good" to "I'm having a bad day actually".
Thankfully today is an ok day. Shame the weather isn't fine though. I'm bored with the snow here but it does seem to be gradually disappearing. If I lived anywhere that snow was a permanent feature during winter months I would not be fine.
It is kind of a knee-jerk reaction, isn't it? I know a couple of people who had better responses: "About average," "Terrible," and "Do you have an hour?"
ReplyDeleteThey're good responses and of course it depends on who's asking the question as well.
DeleteI am more likely to answer with "good" rather than "fine" but we all do it, don't we.
ReplyDeleteYes. Perhaps I'll work out a better reply lol
DeleteApologies Wendy...I have fallen behind in the blog land. Oh how true this post is...smiles
ReplyDeleteNo worries Linda. Thanks for stopping by.
DeletePeople need to learn to be OK talking about things that aren't comfortable. Society, as a whole, tends to avoid uncomfortable subjects. Almost as if they think that by avoiding those topics, they will no longer exist. Doesn't seem to be working out too well for us, so far...
ReplyDelete