The Time I Hesitated Asking if Someone Was in Pain

The forecasted weather motivated a change of plans that sent me and my wife south on the Garden State Parkway to salvage as much time as possible on the quiet Belmar beach before we were shut down for winter. As we combed the shoreline gathering shells that had washed up after the weekend’s nor’easter, I noticed a young woman sitting alone on the sand staring out over the ocean. Her total and prolonged stillness made me feel she was experiencing an emotional crisis. That feeling heightened when she lay down in the sand and remained motionless for several minutes. I continued walking the beach ostensibly looking for shells but, in fact, watching her. She remained unaware of my presence as I tread a wide circle around her, considering if I should ask if she was all right. At first, I thought I should mind my own business rather than risk interrupting her reverie and causing her embarrassment or even anger. I tried to predict how I would react if our roles were reversed. Then, I considered what I would want a stranger to do if that young woman were my own daughter. With that perspective, it became clear that if there was a chance this person was in emotional pain, leaving her there alone and ignored was unacceptable. I approached where she was still lying motionless in the sand; and seeing her eyes open, I simply asked if she was okay. To my relief, she gave me a warm smile and said she was just fine. She explained that after living down the Shore for many years, she...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Mental Health America Policy and Advocacy Publishers Stigma Emotional Crisis Emotional Pain Hesitation Outreach people in crisis Public Awareness Recovery The Mental Health First Aid Act well-being Source Type: blogs