Getting Out of the "Friend Zone"

How distressed do you need to be before you ask for help?

Most of us, if we can take a moment to reflect, can find things in our lives that feel heavy and difficult and unfair compared to other people we know. And most of us can also find parts of our lives that feel easier, luckier, and more privileged than others. So how "bad off" do you have to be before reaching out?

The answer isn't just about you. The way our culture and our communities influence us means that some of us are made to fee...