I’m Afraid to Ask You If You’re Okay

What If Love Isn’t Enough?

Photo by Max Ovcharenko on Unsplash

Free Access

You know what’s harder than going through difficult times? Watching the people you love go through them and being unable to do anything about it.

When it’s your own pain, at least you can sit with it, name it, fight it, or even run from it. There’s a strange sense of control in suffering when it belongs to you

There’s so much advice out there about how to help, just listen, be present, that’s enough. But what if they don’t want to talk about it?

What if your listening doesn’t change anything? What if you’re scared to even ask, afraid you might push them into something they’re not ready to share, something they don’t feel safe sharing with you?

And then your mind spirals. You start wondering what they’re thinking… what kind of terrible thoughts might be crossing their mind.

Isn’t it a tragedy

to watch someone you love suffer, and all you can do is stand there and witness it?

When someone opens up, we’re quick to say, “I understand.” But do we, really?

We know it must be hard, yes. But I don’t think we ever truly grasp how hard it is.

I’ve spent so much time reading psychology and philosophy, trying to understand myself, my emotions, my mind. So wouldn’t it be dishonest to say that I understand someone else completely?

Do you understand? It’s okay. Nobody really does.

Author’s note: I’m going to take a break. I think I’m experiencing burnout. I don’t know how short or long it will be, but I’ll still be doing my editorial work. Goodbye for now. I’ll be back with better sentences.