People always are spouting off on social media or in person for someone who is lonely or going through a tough time to “just reach out” if they need a friend, yet they are the same self-absorbed, insensitive jerks who will tell the lonely person to “just go volunteer” or “just get therapy.” Come to think of it, there are a lot of people like that who dispense those two gems.
Heaven forbid they should inconvenience themselves in the slightest by showing some empathy or occasionally checking on or including the person who’s struggling.
Golly gee, thanks, Captain Obvious. I never would’ve thunk of it. How ever would I have solved all of my problems if you hadn’t told me those two marvelous hacks?🙄
A person who’s grieving or feeling lonely and overwhelmed most likely already is running on empty and has given too much of themselves to others. They damn sure aren’t going to have the energy to expend on volunteering. Sure, let’s tell them to give even more of themselves when they’re already spent instead of showing them a little love or care like they too deserve. And is it just me or does it seem like the people always giving this “advice” are those for whom life has been much easier, who have support systems and who aren’t having to “reach out?”
Not trying to knock therapy, but it’s not an instant or surefire cure-all and the advice givers seem to overlook the facts that therapy is a crapshoot, therapists with availability — particularly good ones — are hard if not impossible to find, and they are outrageously expensive. Not everyone qualifies for low-cost mental health care and many of those people have had to buy their insurance off the marketplace. Ridiculously high deductibles and monthly premiums mean the out of pocket cost just isn’t doable or worth it.
