The first step is almost always the hardest, and almost always smaller than it feels. Seeking support does not mean immediately committing to years of therapy. It can start with simply talking to one person you trust about what you are carrying. It can be finding a school counsellor or a church-based pastoral team. It can be reading more about what you are experiencing so it has a name and is less frightening. It can be a single session with a professional, with no commitment to more. If you are looking for a counsellor, here are things that matter: are they trained and can they tell you about that training? Do you feel safe and not judged in the first session? Do they ask questions more than they give answers? Are they able to sit with difficult things without trying to immediately resolve them? No counsellor is perfect. The first one may not be the right fit. That is fine. It does not mean counselling does not work. It means finding the right person takes a little time, and that is worth giving it. If cost is a barrier, it is worth knowing that some counsellors in Nigeria and West Africa work on sliding scales, and pastoral counsellors through faith communities often provide support at no charge. You do not have to have the full picture before you begin. You just have to begin.