A Vulnerable
Conversation” By Athena Wu
T
he conversation around mental health and illness is daunting—for people on both ends.
While more and more people are talking about mental health, it is still unfamiliar and uncomfortable territory. It may be because of the stigma of mental illnesses that has haunted our society for ages, or it may simply point toward how humans despise being vulnerable. We build walls up around ourselves for security, protecting our innermost thoughts and emotions from judgment. We hide our burdens because we don’t want to burden others, or we believe that we can deal with it on our own. Opening ourselves up to others, as well as having others be vulnerable with us, can bring up fear—fear of judgment, fear of rejection, fear of doing something wrong, but also fear for a loved one’s well-being. With these intimidating emotions swarming our minds, having conversations around matters such as depression, addiction, or suicidality is not at
all easy, but it is still nevertheless essential in protecting lives and healing. How can I tell someone that I am struggling? It all begins with one line: “I’m not doing too well. Can I talk to you about it?” You can say it face-to-face, over text, through Snapchat—whichever platform makes you comfortable. Talking in person is better for physical connection and empathy. After all, there are no emojis or abbreviations we can hide behind. It’s the real thing—raw emotion and expression. Although I try to challenge myself to have vulnerable talks face-to-face, I do find it easier to express everything I want to talk about through messaging apps. They give each person time and space to react, process, and contemplate without the stress of being put on the spot.
