At mid-month, while I was trying to hold it all together – being a rock for my children grieving their pet and a sounding board for my siblings as the family stress increased, I never really stopped to acknowledge how everything was affecting me.

A long time friend asked me to go golfing. You know you’re stressed when the idea of doing something you normally would consider fun stresses you out!

With my energy levels down, I was going to turn her down completely, but I asked if I could just have coffee with her instead.

As we sat on her lovely deck in the country with lattes and pastries in hand, I let the “everything is going great” facade down and told her things weren’t going well and completely broke down. She hugged me, consoled me, made me laugh and we proceeded to have a 3 hour visit talking about everything under the sun as good friends do. It was just what I needed.

Friend therapy is one of the greatest tools we have at our disposal and so often we deny ourselves that because we don’t want to burden others with our upsets. We don’t want to admit the embarrassment of going through hard times. Or, perhaps we don’t want to face the truth.

We need to acknowledge when we are avoiding fun because it is a sign that we are choosing depression, upset and stress – and it is a sign that we need to take action for our own sake.

My friend saved me that day – ok that might be a bit dramatic – but she did lift my spirits, my mood, my outlook and my energy. I feel the strength to keep moving forward and facing the things that are ahead for me and my family. That is priceless.