SUICIDE - THE WAR NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT CANNOT BE FOUGHT

This seems to keep hitting closer and closer to home and it's bothering me here lately. It's victims are of all ages, shapes, sizes, and colors. It takes friends, family, acquaintances, and strangers all over the world. Everybody fights different battles. Everybody copes differently to the outcomes of those battles. However, not everybody asks for help. Not everyone takes the time to reach out. I don't know if it is because people feel they will be stigmatized by reaching out? That they are inconveniencing somebody by taking time to say "Hey, I've got some inner demons that I need help fighting"? I'm not sure if these people truly feel alone and afraid of what may come if they do not follow through with these thoughts weighing on their conscience. I can tell you one thing though. No matter how alone and afraid you may feel. No matter how helpless, worthless, directionless, senseless, etc. that you may feel... SOMEBODY CARES ABOUT YOU. Not everybody will be verbal about the ways they care. Not everybody will be in your direct circle of friends and/or family. Some of these people may be complete strangers to you and you've never made contact with them in your life. You may be a complete stranger to the person you're asking help from. Just because the evidence is not there, does not mean that support is absent. It is difficult for a support system to present itself when they don't know a battle is present.

THE WAR NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT CANNOT BE FOUGHT. It is the deadliest war of them all. There is no time to prepare for the outcome. No time to provide support. No time to ask questions. No time to compromise. No time to confront and defeat the enemy. The whole course of your battle could be changed with the assistance of a helping hand.

So please: TALK TO SOMEBODY. REACH OUT. If you feel you have nobody to reach out to, REACH OUT TO ME. I WILL BE YOUR FRIEND. I don't care if we've never spoken before. I don't care about your past. I don't care that you're thousands of miles away. I don't care what types of things you may be ashamed of that you do in your free time. I don't care what color you are or if you've wronged me. I STILL CARE ABOUT YOU AND YOUR LIFE.

We as a society need to be more accepting and willing to help those in need. If you see a post somewhere that is unsettling or seems like someone has hit the bottom of the bottom, hopeless, and defeated.. REACH OUT TO THEM. If you've got a friend who has been acting odd, bothered, or absent.. REACH OUT TO THEM. There is a reason they are acting outside of their element. It is our job as people to make sure that the well-being of others is taken care of as well. WE CANNOT GROW AS A SOCIETY IF WE ONLY SUPPORT OURSELVES. Please share this and let's let everybody know that THEY ARE NOT ALONE AND WE ARE THERE TO HELP THEM. THE BATTLE IS NOT LOST. Even if somebody seems okay, does not mean they are. Do not be afraid to press and continue checking on them regularly. YOUR ACTIONS COULD SAVE A LIFE.

Sincerely,

Brendan

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Recovery - the key to making gains

Suicide - the war nobody knows about cannot be fought

perception, beliefs, and mentalities - psychological aspects of sport and performance

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