Alex's Answer

Welcome to Ask Alex.

 

Thanks for reaching out. This is the starting point to access the support and services to which you are entitled and which you are worthy of.

 

You have stated, “What do I do to deserve this pain?” We are deeply sorry to hear that you are in pain, but please know that you are not alone. We hear you and want the best for you because you deserve it. While you haven’t specified the cause of this pain, we want you to look for support. You haven’t done anything wrong, and no one should go through physical or mental pain. No one should inflict pain on you, regardless of their reasons, and most importantly, you should not inflict it upon yourself.

 

Life has many struggles and aspects that can cause pain, aside from physical pain. We suffer the pain of loss, the pain of not feeling okay within our own skin, the pain of demons that haunt us, and the pain from dramatic events. The list is endless, and everyone experiences it differently. Since you’ve had the strength to reach out today, we believe you have the strength to confront that pain and be supported through it.

 

If the pain is medical and you require tests or medication to alleviate the pain, be sure to communicate this with your caregivers and explore every route to find relief.

 

If the pain is more of an emotional struggle, it’s time to fight back. Ensure that you have the support of positive, trusted adults in your life who want the best for you. Explore when the pain started and see if you can identify any triggers that may have caused it. By being aware of our triggers, we can begin to confront and challenge them. The support network you have will be invaluable, as it’s much easier to face things with support than on our own.

 

You can always reach out to Childline if you feel like you’d like to discuss things further. You can contact the Childline Team by phone at 1800 66 66 66 or through Live Chat at www.childline.ie. You can start a chat by clicking on the orange tab on the right-hand side of your screen. Childline services are free and confidential, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

 

We hope that some of the above information is helpful to you and that you can address the source of your pain. Please continue to reach out and know that there are supports available to assist you.

 

Take care of yourself, and know we are here for you,

Alex