Help: Friend In Need
Okay, so I firstly just want to say I have never posted on here before so any help or tips would be valued immensely!
So I have this friend, let's call her Lola, who has been friends with my best friend for a long time. I first met her about three years ago at my best friend's birthday party.
Just after that, Lola added me on Facebook, and soon we were chatting all the time and, for the past two years (even though she moved away a while ago) we have chatted on Facebook lots and become great friends, even though we have not met since my other friend's party.
Last year Lola moved back here and I still hadn't seen her (I'm home-schooled so I wouldn't have seen her at school). On Facebook a while ago, Lola told me about how she has depression and diabetes. Recently she also changed her favourite quote on MSN to, "Who cares? I'm only going to die anyway."
The other day she posted, "It ends tonight, everything" and I thought nothing of it. My friend (who's party it was me and Lola met at) commented asking if she was okay. Lola replied a long comment about how everyone hated her and she really hated herself and there was just no point in living anymore.
That really worried me! Here's my comment back:
"I like u Lola!! i never even see you but i adore & look up to you!! think of the good things and smile!! things might be tough now but think about if it all ended now all the tings you would miss, your 21st birthday, your wedding, you might never even know what it feels like to be truley in love... do you really wanna throw all that away because of some stupid people please dont do anything stupid... im counting on you!!!"
I think it worked because her next status update was, "I really don't know what I'd do without DaizyRainbow, I really don't." She messaged me asking me to come and see her on the other side of town the next day. I couldn't because I was taking my little sister shopping for her birthday, but I spent the whole of our shopping trip worrying about Lola.
We have since arranged to meet. I think she wants me to cheer her up, and I really want to, but I can't really think of anything to say. How do you help somebody who (even if you have spoken to them loads of times) you only met once?
I really want to help her but I need help. Please help me! What kind of things should I say to her?
If you have been affected by the issues in this article, talk to Meic. They are free and ready to listen 24 hours a day, every day. You can also call ChildLine on 0800 1111.
Thinking of meeting someone in person you met on Facebook? It's worth reading shaunie from Wrexham's article about Staying Safe Offline.
Emotional & Mental Health Pages
1 Comment – Post a comment
cid
Commented 11 months ago - 28th May 2012 - 12:47pm
Hi great article - hard for you to do
look after yourself too
I think that being there has been a great help for Lola - often more important than saying anything !