Asking for help without straining the relationship
Would you like to ask your partner, family or friends for help, but are you worried that this might put a strain on the relationship? Perhaps that is why you ask for less help than you actually need. Or you only ask for help when you really can’t cope any longer. This can cause tension, because the other person then suddenly has to take on a lot more. Asking for help within a relationship or family is a sensitive matter. You don’t want to ask too much of the other person. At the same time, you sometimes need support. By discussing the need for help clearly and in good time, the relationship often remains better balanced.
What do you notice?
Finding it difficult to ask for help can have a significant impact on the relationship.
You may, for example, notice that:
- you continue to take on tasks that are too demanding;
- You only ask for help when you are exhausted;
- you feel guilty;
- you’re worried that the other person might get angry or tired;
- you are asking for help in an unclear manner;
- frustration arises over expectations;
- if you feel dependent;
- you are less open about it;
- you feel alone with your symptoms.
Sometimes you think you are protecting the other person by not asking any questions. But the other person often realises that things are not going well.
