How do I let my friends know that sometimes I need help, too?

Often we give to others the help we need ourselves, says Annalisa Barbieri. What would happen if you put yourself first occasionally?

I'm a 37-year-old gay male. I don't want an other half", because I like being single, but I'm always there for my friends, even during this pandemic. However, recently I've found they are not really there for me. None of them asks how I am, even after I've shared something that has upset me.

Sometimes I need a little care, a hug, a little backup, or something to lift me up, too. I don't hate being that person for them, but I do hate myself when I am trying to lift a friend in need when I haven't dealt with something of my own.