To My Friend Who Feels Lost Right Now

To My Friend Who Feels Lost Right Now

I see you. I see the pain you’re carrying, the weight of the trauma you’ve survived. I know how easy it is to believe that your life doesn’t matter after everything you’ve been through. You may even be wondering if it’s worth continuing. If that’s you right now, I need you to know something: your life is precious. Not because of what you’ve done or what’s happened to you, but because of who you are.

Surviving something horrible doesn’t make you less valuable—it makes you strong. Even if you don’t feel that way right now, you have already made it through so much. And that matters. Your life matters. What others have done to you cannot define you, even though the scars are real and deep.

For a long time, I struggled with this myself. I was so focused on taking care of others that I lost sight of my own needs and worth. I didn’t even realize how much I was neglecting myself, because I thought being strong meant pouring everything into someone else. It wasn’t until I reached my breaking point that I understood: I deserve care, too. Learning to care for myself has been one of the hardest lessons, but it’s one that has changed my life.

If you’re a survivor, maybe you know what that feels like. Maybe you’ve been giving so much of yourself to everyone else—whether through caregiving or just getting by—that you’ve forgotten how to care for yourself. Maybe you’ve been told that your value comes from what you do for others, and you’ve forgotten that your life has value simply because you exist. That’s not easy to hear, but it’s true.

I want to remind you that your life is still precious, no matter what has happened to you. You survived something horrible, but you’re still here. And that is no small thing. I want you to take one small step today toward healing. It doesn’t have to be big—maybe it’s just taking a moment for yourself, asking yourself what you need. Or maybe it’s reaching out for help, allowing someone else to care for you for a change.

If you’re struggling with thoughts of suicide, please don’t carry that weight alone. There are people who care, and there are resources that can help. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24/7 at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or you can text "HELLO" to 741741 for free, confidential support.

Your life is worth living, and you are worth the care and love you give to others. Even in your darkest moments, there is hope. There is healing. And you are not alone.