I have trouble asking for help (hypersensitive quality: pride)

We applaud you for trying to get better at asking for help! Many people find it difficult to ask for help for many different reasons: maybe they want to seem independent, or they're worried about looking weak. Maybe they don't believe they're worthy of help, or that anyone can help. It might benefit you to consider where your reluctance to ask for help stems from.

Asking for help is a skill like any other, and it gets easier the more you practice it. Try reframing your need for help on school projects as an opportunity for your classmates to step up and pull their weight. They may even wish they could take on more responsibility.

When asking for help, try making a SMART request—that is, a request that is specific , meaningful , action-oriented , realistic , and time-bound . SMART requests make things easier for the person asking for help as well as the person giving it because they clarify exactly what help is needed and when. Good luck!

It’s important that you understand that asking another person for help can be a compliment to them in many cases. Be sure to tell them that you know they are busy and you respect and are so grateful for their help. As long as they know that you respect their time, they will likely be open to your request. People typically get a dopamine spike when they help others as long as they know that they are respected and that it is a worthwhile favor.