It's Okay to Ask for Help

It's okay to ask for help. You are not alone. As my eczema would get worse, I would always keep quiet about it to everyone, including my close family, boyfriend, and close friends. I kept to myself because I felt like no one would understand me and what I was actually going through. I am the only one who has eczema or any skin condition in my family. Most eczema sufferers like myself feel this way because we are never heard. Also, in the community in which I live, I don't know anyone that I can relate to who also has eczema. All the connections I had were online and still are.

My eczema was downplayed

It took me a long time to understand that people in my life care about me and want me to be well. It was hard at first asking for help and saying out loud, "I need help." I always felt like I would be a bother when I asked for help. Also, there was a big fear of being judged and not being taken seriously, which was the last thing I wanted to do to my loved ones. As I grew older, I saw that skin conditions were not taken very seriously in my family. It was "just" a skin condition. It was never something "that serious" when, in fact, it can become life-threatening if infected to the point of being hospitalized.

The first times I asked for help

I asked for help for the first time when my skin got really bad. It got to the point I needed to become hospitalized, which ended up being a good thing because I was able to get treated and feel better. Yet, I was too stubborn to ask for help until the situation got worse. The second time I asked for help was when I wanted to seek out therapy, but I didn't know how to look for help. I didn't know where to start or where to look for advice. I ended up calling my insurance and asking how to become approved for therapy. They assessed me to see if I needed the help and ended up giving me weekly sessions.

Getting help early

Now, I tend to ask for help a lot sooner. If it means making an appointment with the dermatologist as soon as possible or going to the doctor's office for any little thing, I like to prevent it before it gets bad to the point of being too sick. I now know it is better to ask for help than to be sorry later on.

Asking for help is a sign of strength

Remember, it is important to ask for help and there is nothing wrong with it. It does not show weakness; it shows you want and are accepting of change. Being able to accept help is a big step in the right direction. Showing that you are in need of help actually shows courage and strength. It can take a long time, but once you are ready to receive help you will feel so much better like I did. Next time, when you are feeling sick/hopeless, will you ask for help? Happy healing to every sufferer out there.