by Kylie Ikeda, SRVUSD High School Student
A Conversation That Made a Difference
It started with a passing comment. My friend mentioned that she had been feeling anxious and struggling with some fears, and I asked her about it.
As she talked, I found myself opening up too. I shared some of my own fears and experiences with anxiety that I normally kept to myself. We soon realized that we had both been carrying worries that made us feel isolated from others.
Neither of us had all the answers, but we didn’t need to. We could listen, understand, and give each other a safe place to talk about feelings that were sometimes difficult to put into words.
For my friend, simply having someone to talk to without feeling like she was a burden made a difference. For me, the conversation was an important reminder: people don’t always need us to fix what they are going through. Sometimes, they simply need someone who will listen and stand beside them.
How Therapy Helped Me
During our conversation, I recommended therapy because of how much it had helped me personally.
I started attending therapy regularly during my freshman year of high school, and I have never looked back. Having a place where I could be completely honest about what I was feeling has helped me countless times throughout my life.
I am incredibly grateful for my therapist and the safe, judgment-free space she has given me. She has listened, supported me, and helped me work through some of the hardest moments in my life. Therapy gave me a place where I could say what I was feeling out loud and begin to understand and work through it.
Watching a Friend Take That Step
Eventually, my friend decided to try therapy too, and it became a positive experience for her. She had someone she could talk to openly and a space where she could begin working through her fears.
I could see that a weight had been lifted from her shoulders, and I couldn’t have been happier for her. Opening up about what she was experiencing and taking steps to care for herself required courage. Instead of continuing to carry everything on her own, she chose to reach out for support.
Letting Go of the Stigma
That experience also made me think differently about how I talk about therapy.
For a long time, I felt that going to therapy was something I should keep private because of the stigma surrounding mental health. But therapy has had such a positive impact on my life that I no longer believe it is something I should feel embarrassed to talk about.
By sharing my experience, I hope I can help someone else feel more comfortable seeking support when they need it. Getting help should not be viewed as something shameful. It is a positive step toward taking care of yourself and your well-being.
Sometimes Listening Is Enough
Most importantly, my conversation with my friend reminded me how meaningful it can be to simply listen.
Neither of us could solve everything the other person was going through. But being able to talk openly and feel understood mattered.
I believe everyone should have the opportunity to try therapy because having a safe place to speak openly with someone can be incredibly valuable. And when therapy isn’t available, talking with a trusted friend, family member, teacher, counselor, or another supportive person can still be an important first step.
Support for Students in Our Community
As the school year begins and stress starts to build, I want students to know that support is available right here in our community.
Discovery Counseling Center provides counseling support at SRVUSD school locations, giving students a place to reach out when they need someone to talk to.
Whether support comes through therapy or a conversation with someone you trust, reaching out is something to be encouraged, not something to be ashamed of.
Sometimes, the first step toward feeling better is simply letting someone know what you are going through. You don’t have to have all the answers before you ask for support.
Learn more or get started at discoveryctr.net.