How Do I Know I Need Help?

FOR ADULTS, COUPLES, OR PARENTS:
*Persistent or pervasive feelings of depression, sadness, or guilt.
*Difficulties with anger, hostility, or violence.
*Sexual problems or concerns.
*Loss of spiritual direction or "distance" from God.
*Problems with alcohol or drugs.
*Unexplainable fatigue or difficulty sleeping.
*Difficulties in talking with your fiance, children, spouse, parents, or others.
*Feelings of loneliness, moodiness, sadness, failure, stress, or anxiety.
*The need for over-the-counter tranquilizers, energizers, or sleeping aids.
*Family stress due to chronic illnesses or an illness in which stress plays a major role.
*Drastic weight fluctuations or irregular eating patterns.

FOR CHILDREN and TEENAGERS:
*Sudden or gradual drop in performance in school or academics.
*Increase in moodiness, anger, or aggressiveness in class or at home.
*Difficulty adjusting to changes at home due to parental separation or divorce.
*Behavior problems in one of three areas: home, school, or peers.

*Seeming "failure to thrive"

It helps to talk and Listen

Please listen to me...

When I ask you and...

     You start giving me advice, you have not done what I've asked. 

     You tell me why I shouldn't feel that way, you are not listening to my feelings.

     You feel you have to do something to solve my problems, you are missing what I want.

Please Listen and I may  ask for any or all of those things, or maybe just to listen.

All I ask is your help in listening, just hear me. 

I can do for myself if I have your understanding and you stand by me and for me ready to respond when I ask. 

Maybe I am discouraged and faltering, but only helpless and I need a friend.

And wheb I express irrational things and fears, and  host of other feelings, I will look to you for help by simply reflecting what I am saying.

Then the rational will enter my mind because we will both understand  the irrational as the rational answer takes its place. 

So, please listen and hear me...

And if you want to talk, wait a minute for your turn and ask me how you can help

Then I promise to listen to you.

Too busy for each other

"Creep" downward of vision or goals

Diminished Intimacy or sexual life

Nothing positive to say to each other

Affair(s)

No trust

Complaints crowd our compliments

Uneven work overload at home

Stonewalling your spouse

Contempt of spouse

Substance abuse

Hitting, pushing, terrorizing spouse

Alienating children from other parent

"I will praise the Lord, who counsels me,
even at night my heart instructs me.
I have set the Lord always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken."
Psalm 16.7-8

"Sometimes I feel so alone.  Does God exist or hear what I say to Him?" ---D. D. M

"Come unto me all ye who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am gentle and you will find rest for your souls."  --- Jesus Christ

"I feel like I have the weight of the world on my shoulders.  Does God care about me?  How could He with so many others in the world?"  R.J.D.

"God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believed in Him might not perish, but have everlasting life.  God sent His son into the world not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.  ...  I have come that you might have life and life in abundance."  --  The Bible

"I thank God that He heard my cry

and brought me out of the miry bog

and set my feet on solid ground"

---The Psalmist in the Bible