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To what extent would you go in trying to know whatever is troubling your closed one? Would you go as far as invading their privacy by reading their diary to know what is wrong with them?
Please don’t read anyone’s diary without permission. Not even the diary of your child. It may not give any clue to whatever you’re worried about . On the other hand, you will just alienate them for intrusion into what they consider a secret they want to hide.
If the person doesn’t want to share his or her concern for a reason and wants to address it in his or her own way, you should respect that. And it is better to let them sort it out.
Anyway, engage them for a heart to heart discussion with an assurance to maintain confidentiality of the problem and a sincere promise to help him or her out.
If they do not open up, talk to their best friends discretely. If that also doesn’t help wait to see how it unfolds in a few days time.
If I had huge concerns about someone, then yes, I would read their diary but I would do it with the intenion of never telling them. I would do it hoping for a clue that would allow me to help them. I would also give them every opportunity to talk to me, to confide in me and share their fears. I’ve never kept a diary myself – my husband does but I never look at it because I know it’s mainly about the weather and what he had for dinner. That makes me wonder what other people put into diaries, apart from everyday appointments and activities.
I am amazed that people write down their innermost thoughts and feelings and that makes me think this is some sort of cry for help – and it is meant to be read by someone else.
I know that if I had a secret or problem that really bothered me but I didn’t want anyone to know about, the last thing I would do is to write it down inside a book labelled ‘diary’.