After several weeks of therapy with Dr. Eva, Lina began to feel that it was time to open up to her family about her struggles. While therapy had provided her with some tools and techniques to manage her feelings, the support of her loved ones was also considered crucial in her recovery process. However, Lina felt deep apprehension about how her family would respond to the news. She was worried they might not fully understand, or worse, they might feel burdened by the emotional weight she carried.
Lina decided to talk to her mother first. Her mother, Mrs. Mariam, was a loving and caring woman but also someone who often tended to offer unsolicited advice and held high expectations for her children. Lina felt that her mother might find it difficult to accept this news, but she also knew that if there was anyone who could support her wholeheartedly, it was her mother.
One afternoon, Lina invited her mother over for tea at her house. As Mrs. Mariam arrived, Lina felt her heart racing. She struggled to stay calm and began the conversation lightly. After some time, Lina gathered the courage and decided to share what she had been experiencing over the past few months.
"Mom, there's something I want to talk about," Lina said, her voice slightly trembling. "I've been feeling very stressed and anxious lately. I've started seeing a psychologist and undergoing therapy."
Mrs. Mariam looked at Lina with a mixed expression, clearly surprised. "Why didn't you tell me earlier?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern. "I feel like I don't know anything about what you've been going through."
Lina sighed, trying to explain. "I felt ashamed and afraid that you or Dad would think I was weak. I also didn't want to burden you both."
Mrs. Mariam moved closer, gently holding Lina's hand. "You are not a burden, Lina. We are family. We need to support each other and face problems together. I'm so sorry if I didn't realize how much you were struggling."
Hearing her mother's words made Lina feel relieved. Mrs. Mariam listened intently as Lina described how therapy was going and the techniques she was learning to manage her feelings. Lina also explained how she had found it difficult to share these feelings out of fear of being perceived as unable to handle her own life.
Mrs. Mariam tried to understand and offered the necessary support. "I may not know exactly how you feel, but I can try to understand and help as much as possible. You can talk to me anytime."
