Can I Talk About It?

On social support

It can be hard to know when to talk about a painful experience that’s happened to you. It can feel like the wrong time - all the time. It can also be unclear to figure out who’s the right person to talk to. As you move along a path of healing, you may start to wonder when to share your story with others if you haven’t already done so. Perhaps, you think, if you share with someone, they will have a fuller appreciation of the different sides of you and the unique experiences that have made you… you. It might also feel like relief to think about breaking the silence through sharing with another person. After all, many social media messages for healing and recovery emphasize the importance of social support in the aftermath of a traumatic experience. And yet, as heartening as it may sound, the message about getting social support can inadvertently bring up feelings of shame for those who can’t seem to find that support. And this shame can add to an already heavy burden from the original t…