Something on this platform has been bothering me lately.
People reach out because they’re suffering, but they feel ashamed of being perceived as negative and dragging others down. They apologize for “venting” or “ranting”.
I’ve turned to this community for help when I’m struggling, and I’m sure I’ll do it again in the future. I’ve been met with incredible empathy and love.
Journaling doesn’t work for me. It reinforces my pain. Reaching out does wonders.
This is a safe space. A place for affirmations, humor, knowledge, creativity, and gratitude. But also a place to lay bare a dark night of the soul.
I read an article about the benefits of expressing negative emotions by Malinda King, MA, LPCC. Some quotes:
“We cannot selectively numb or deny emotions so when we do that to our sadness, fear, and anger, we are also numbing out our ability to experience happiness, joy, and gratitude.”
“Blocked and suppressed emotions have been linked to physical problems like heart disease, intestinal problems, headaches, insomnia, and autoimmune disorders.”
“When we express vulnerable emotions like sadness, pain or fear with other people we care about, it actually creates bonding moments with that other person, making the relationship deeper, more meaningful, and intimate.”
So no, we don’t have to “accentuate the positive” at the expense of being authentic. (That doesn’t mean we have to abandon gratitude or finding “glimmers”- those are part of the picture, too).
I am so grateful that, when needed, I can “vent” and “rant” here. And I hope that new Mighties feel safe and supported when they do the same.
#Bipolar #Depression #GAD #OCD #PTSD
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