Know Before You Speak

You see me tired, lost in thought,

And I think you incorrectly assume you know the cause I’ve got.

“You just need sleep, go take a walk,”

As if my mind’s a broken clock.

You throw out cures with no real weight; when it comes to Pham, you’re saying he is bad. You don’t hesitate.

“Try yoga, greens, or changing fate.”

But have you read it? Have you explored?

Or do you speak just feeling sure?

You say your words mean no harm; I see that clearly, they have harm.

Because words can cut when the hearts can’t hear.

When pain is brushed aside so fast,

It tells me my truth doesn’t last.

You speak like healing is one straight track,

Like one small step can bring me back.

But brains aren’t bones that mend in place,

And minds don’t heal at the same pace.

This isn’t a choice or a lack of fight,

It's not just a phase, not black and white, or from a lack of effort.

I navigate a storm inside,

A shifting sea, a changing tide.Yet here you stand with quick-fix lines,

Prescribing hope in borrowed signs.

“Just think good thoughts,” “Just let it go,” As if I haven’t tried, you know?

You wouldn’t tell a drowning man,

“To simply breathe, just grab my hand.”

You wouldn’t say to someone lame,

“Just run, just try, ignore the pain.”

So why assume my wounds aren’t real?

Why doubt the weight of what I feel?

Why think that wisdom needs no base,

That words alone can heal this space?

If you want to lend a hand,

Then, first, it’s time to understand.

Read the studies, hear the fights,

Learn from those who’ve walked these nights.

Listen first before you speak,

Not every mind is strong or weak.

Some need time, some need space,

Some need help at their own pace.

Ask, don’t tell—don’t claim to know

What you’ve not lived or let unfold.

Because to help means more than talk—

It starts with learning, not with shock.

Find the books, the facts, the truth,

Not myths wrapped up in golden youth.

See the science, hear the past,

Understand—before you cast.

And if you still don’t fully see,

Then stand and sit with me.

Not to fix, not to repair,

But just to show that you are there.

Before you offer your next advice,

Consider this: think twice, thrice.

Unsolicited words can sting,

Assuming knowledge of everything.

Before you offer your next advice,

Consider this: think twice, thrice.

Unsolicited words can sting,

Assuming knowledge of everything.

Mental health is a complex maze,

Not solved by platitudes or praise.

Your intentions might be pure,

But first, ensure your words are sure.

Educate yourself on the mind’s deep sea,

Its ebbs and flows, its mystery.

Understand that each path is unique,

What works for one, another might not seek.

If you’ve held beliefs that caused some pain,

If past words left a lasting stain,

Take a moment, own the past,

Growth begins when we hold fast.

Question where your views were made,

Who taught you what, and what they weighed?

Did you learn from facts or fear?

Was it science or just what you heard?

Real support means more than claims,

It’s not about assigning blame.

But knowing when you got it wrong,

And choosing now to grow and be strong.

So next time, pause before you speak,

Offer support, not critique.

In the realm of mental health,

Understanding is the true wealth.

You may think your words are wise,

Backed by YouTube’s latest lies.

But here’s a truth that cuts in deep—

Bad advice is harm you keep.

So swallow this: a bitter pill,

You don’t know much, though you think you do.

You’re not a doctor, not a shrink,

So educate yourself—and think.