Palejowe ABC - HELP

It can be difficult to admit to yourself that you need help, because it has been instilled in our heads since childhood that we should be able to handle ourselves. In some circles, asking for help is even sometimes seen as a sign of weakness or awkwardness. It takes courage to admit to yourself and others that you're not coping, you're not sure about something, or you just need a shoulder to cry on.

When children come into the family, the chance that you will need help increases. Living in a society that prides itself on self-sufficiency, the idea of asking for help can often be daunting. However, being able to ask for help can sometimes save health and even lives.

So what prevents us from asking for help?

Sometimes it's hard to catch that moment when we already need outside support. Even though we are running out of strength or ideas, we still try to manage on our own. If we are not used to asking for help, as well as we grew up in a family where the emphasis was on self-reliance and self-sufficiency, showing our tender part and asking for support can be something shameful. Also, sometimes we think that no one will want to extend a helping hand to us, plus we will receive criticism or irony instead of help. If we have been let down by people many times in our lives, it can be all the more difficult to ask them for help. After all, we have no assurance that they will rise to the occasion this time, as well as that they will keep our request for confidentiality a secret, if that is what we care about.

When we ask someone for help, we admit that we can't handle a task on our own. Depending on our character, temperament or mental state, all sorts of thoughts may run through our head and various feelings may arise. A sense of failure, loss of independence, a feeling of being weak or inadequate, of not meeting expectations, disappointment and unflattering thoughts about oneself are just some of them. On the other hand, asking for and getting help can give us wings and make us believe in our own proficiency, see our courage, our ability to take risks, see the role of the community and feel part of it, feel a sense of belonging to some group and see that the world is not black and white, and there are many wonderful and willing to help people around us.

Therefore, although it is not easy at first and may seem risky, sometimes it is worth taking the first step and reaching out for help. Everyone has times in life when they need a helping hand, and there is nothing shameful about that.

The ability to ask for help is one of the competencies worth teaching your children. You can train in the smallest everyday situations. In this way, your child will become accustomed to the idea that everyone sometimes needs support, but that they also have the power to help someone. Show children how they themselves can help someone. Also tell them about situations in which you yourselves have offered help to someone and benefited from it.

At Paley European Institute, we also know the importance of cooperation and the role of asking for help. Therefore, if you have questions, don't be afraid to ask for help and ask. Seek support from parents in a similar situation, within your family, but also outside of it - with us, you can count on a patient mentor to help you and ask them any questions you are facing. When you need to take a closer look at certain issues, emotions and difficulties, and need emotional support, you are welcome to visit our psychologist. No person in the world has all the knowledge, so when something is unclear, go ahead and ask - our team of specialists is here for you to share their knowledge and experience, to support you in your quest for health and provide you with a sense of security.