5. How to Tell Your Friends You’re Struggling Without It Getting Weird

You know you need to say something.You’re tired of pretending you’re fine.But every time you try, it feels like you’re about to announce you’ve joined a cult.

Here’s the good news:It doesn’t have to be a big, scary conversation.

Some ways to break the ice:

• "Hey, I’m going through a rough patch. Can we hang out soon?"

• "I’m dealing with some mental health stuff. Don’t need advice — just some company."

• "I might seem a bit off lately. It’s nothing you did — just working through some stuff."

You don’t owe anyone a TED Talk on your trauma.You can share as much or as little as you want. Real friends won’t need a PowerPoint presentation to support you.

And if someone makes it weird?That's a them problem, not a you problem.

At Monster Therapy, we believe facing your monsters is hard enough without also having to manage everyone else’s awkwardness.