Life can be hard. Sometimes it’s easier to keep trudging along and say “I’m fine” just so you can make it through the day. We get it.
It became more obvious over the past couple of years that many people were using this “tactic” to help them navigate life during the pandemic. Raise your hand if you automatically respond to “how are you” with a quick “I’m fine.” Without giving your response a second thought. Even when “I’m fine” is the furthest from how you really feel. With the pandemic, social distancing and isolation made it necessary for family and friends to take an extra step to check in on the emotional wellness of their loved ones to ensure the words being spoken over the phone or Zoom align with their reality of what’s going on in their lives.
Give an Hour saw this as a perfect opportunity to introduce a new resource to accompany the Five Signs of Emotional Suffering and the Healthy Habits of Emotional Well-Being, which many now know, recognize and understand. But what happens when there are no outward signs someone is having a hard time and may need help? How do you help someone?
We created the “I’m Fine” sign to emphasize that suffering in silence is very common and, although well-intended, it‘s not helpful in identifying or addressing the root cause of why someone is having a difficult time.
Everyone – including those who appear strong and in control of their emotions – experiences suffering. It’s not uncommon or burdensome to share the truth with your friends and loved ones. You deserve people to know your true feelings so don’t just say “I’m fine.” Respond accordingly.
Don’t suffer alone or in silence. Check out this informational resource and share it with those you care about. Use it as an opportunity to tell your network they have your permission to delve deeper when you say, “I’m fine.”
Save the date … Signs of Silent Suffering Webinar
To launch the “I’m Fine” tool, we are hosting a FREE webinar tomorrow, Thursday, December 8, at noon EST/9 a.m. PST. You will have the opportunity to hear from participants who will share their personal experience of masking their true emotional state with the words “I’m fine.”
Join us for:
The Masks We Wear: “I’m Fine”
How Shielding Ourselves and Others from True Feelings Prevents True Healing
In this webinar, you will learn:
- How to recognize when someone is using “I’m Fine” to cover up other feelings
- When and how to reveal your true feelings
To register, please follow this link.
Panelists include:
- Ross Whitmore, Lieutenant Colonel (Ret); Board Member, Give an Hour
- Michael Morisette, Family member of Borderline Bar & Grill victim; Program Coordinator, Give an Hour
- Shawn Moore, LMSW ; Founder and Executive Director, Caregivers on the Homefront; Program Manager, Financial Wellness for the Elizabeth Dole Foundation; Ambassador, Give an Hour
Moderator:
- Dug Lee, PhD, ABPP; Clinical Psychologist and Professor, Yorkville University; Provider, Give an Hour
