💭 “I didn’t know how to say it… so I didn’t."

💭 “I didn’t know how to say it… so I didn’t."

Ever felt that way?

When we’re going through something hard, silence can feel safer than talking. But that silence can also become a cage.

🧱 Here are some of the reasons we don’t talk when we are hurting:

We’re scared of being judged - “What if they think I’m weak?”
We feel ashamed - “I shouldn’t be feeling this way.”
We’re overwhelmed - “I don’t even know where to start.”
We don’t want to be a burden - “They’ve got their own stuff.”
We’ve been hurt before - “Last time I opened up, it didn’t go well.”
We think we should be able to handle it alone - “I just need to toughen up.”

But here’s what neuroscience and research reveal about talking.

🧠 Talking helps more than you might think:

🗣️ Talking calms our brain – When we express what we are feeling, our brain shifts from overthinking to processing. It’s like turning on a light in a dark room.
🗣️ Connection heals – Safe conversations release oxytocin, the “bonding hormone,” which soothes our nervous system and helps us feel less alone.
🗣️ Words bring clarity – Talking helps us untangle the emotional knots inside of our heads.
🗣️ It breaks the anxiety loop - As I share in Anxiety is a Worry, silence can fuel anxiety. Talking interrupts the worry spiral and brings us back to the present.
🗣️ It rewires your brain for resilience – Each time we speak and feel heard, our brain learns that it is safe to feel, it is safe to share.

You don’t have to tell everyone everything, but telling someone something can change everything!

If this speaks to you, maybe it’s time to speak to someone.

And if someone you care about has gone quiet lately, maybe they just need you to ask twice – “Let’s talk!”