It’s Okay to Cry

I think when the subject of mental health comes up, most people really don’t know how to respond to it. Ask a tow operator how to do a recovery, and he can give you a detailed lesson. Ask a tow operator to figure out what might be going on with someone having a mental health issue and he probably would shy away from that.

Life experiences – good, bad and challenging – affect us emotionally. It’s how we react to these experiences and emotions that we need to address and understand for our mental health. If something tragic happens to us and we are in pain, or ignore feelings of being angry or sad, it can have many negative effects in our personal lives.

I recently heard a mother talk about how she lost her son who was struck and killed while working a recovery on the side of the road. As told her story, tears streamed down my face. My heart felt like a brick in my chest.

This mother decided to take that pain and talk to others about it. She emphasized that along with educating the motoring public of the slow down move over law, we as an industry need to first educate owners and tow operators on how to use whatever tools are available to work safely on the roadways. She, like all of us, wants loved ones to come home every day.

Sharing her son’s story has helped her mental health so much. I’ve found that when I talk to someone and listen to their story, I really don’t have it so bad. And sometimes, I can use what they have gone through or learned to help me cope.

If you feel you might need professional help, ask for and get it. Don’t let it bottle up inside of you. And remember, it’s also okay to cry.