Asking for help can be scary and stressful, but everyone needs help from time to time,
so it’s important to know that it's okay to reach out when you need it.
There are different kinds of help you can receive:
- Physical help is when someone helps you do something or does something for you.
- Emotional help is when someone gives you moral support or encouragement.
- Supportive decision-making help is when someone helps you make a decision.
You can learn more about supportive decision-making in our
Blog Post: What is Decision Making and Why Is It Important?
You can get ready to ask for help with 3 easy steps…
Step 1: Figure out what you need help with
Asking for help is a great way to make sure you are on your way to meeting your goals. You can ask for help to do something, make a decision, to figure out what you are supposed to do, or maybe just be next to you while you do a task. Having somebody next to you can often make a task easier to complete, and it can also be a great chance to learn something new.
Listen to Carla and Carleton discuss why Carla should ask for help with her homework with the video link below. Even if you aren’t a student like Carla, these mindfulness tips can help you overcome any fear by asking for help:
Before you ask for help, think about the type of help you need. If you’re not sure exactly what you need help with, think about your goal and what makes it difficult for you to reach that goal on your own.
Step 2: Pick someone to ask for help
But who can help you? Depending on why you need help, you may want to ask a friend, family member, teacher, or supporter.
When deciding who to ask, you can think about the following:
For example, if you need help with money, you can think about all the people you trust and how much they know about money. Also think about who is in your Daily Life and Employment Life Domain and if they are someone you would feel comfortable talking to about this topic.
Step 3: Ask for help!
When you ask for help, you need to do it in a way that’s easiest for you. You can ask them in person, over the phone, through a message online or in an app, or by “raising your hand” in the LifeCourseOnline app.
Don’t forget to give them the information they need to help you best. You can tell them:
- What you want or need to do/Where you want or need to go.
- What you are not sure about.
- How much you have done.
- How much you can do.
- If you need someone to do it for you, or if you can do it.
- If it needs to be done by a certain day.
Once you receive the help, don't forget to follow up and thank them for the help! Remember, it is okay to ask for help; many people are more than willing to listen and offer assistance.