I see you, I hear you

Mental Illness. I don’t think it gets talked about enough. I think people are afraid to be real and to look into what those words actually mean. I think the topic gets pushed aside until something drastic occurs, you suffer in the dark for what feels like a lifetime and then when you accidentally let your struggles come to light only because they’ve started to become too heavy to keep carrying around, then that’s when you see people start putting in at least a little effort to realize what’s happening. You answer them with the whole “everything’s fine” just to have it shrugged off all over again. I think that’s what makes me infuriated the most. No one knows how to be consistent when it comes to supporting someone with mental illness. As long as you give someone what they want to hear, then you’re in the clear. But no. That’s not how this should work. We should be caring more for people who constantly struggle with this, no matter how great they make things seem. No one should wake up every morning and feel too afraid to ask for help, asking for support should start becoming a normal thing. Not something that is shameful or embarrassing.

Depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts are real. Some people might say that it’s not and that it’s something you can easily recover from, but they would be wrong. Depression is like a shadow lurking in the corner of your room at night. It lingers there, watching and waiting until you’re at your most vulnerable until it can swoop in and take control. Depression makes itself known; it turns you against everyone in your life. It takes all the enjoyment from everything you once loved. You can push it away and push it away, but it always finds another way to come back creeping into your life. Anxiety is like a constant weight that you carry around. No matter how much you tell yourself that it’s just your brain being overdramatic and that those feelings aren’t real, it still crushes you. It makes you feel like the world is spinning and things are flying past you, and you aren’t able to grab onto anything to keep yourself afloat and safe. Suicide is probably the most feared word of all. It’s something you tiptoe around, something you try to sneak by because if you provoke it then it’s going to attack at full force. I don’t think anyone truly understands it until you’ve been in that inevitable moment with nothing but yourself. You honestly have to rely on you in that moment. You must tell yourself that this is permanent and there’s no turning back. Talking yourself off the ledge is terrifying, but it’s also the bravest thing you could do. If you have ever been that close to the abyss, and you’re still here today. I am so proud of you.

This world needs more kindness. Everyone in this society can be so evil and self-centered. Just one small act of kindness makes a huge difference. We need to start sharing how we’re feeling internally, we need to start checking on people who seem like they have life all figured out. Odds are, it’s all a lie and they don’t want anyone seeing the real them. I see you. I relate to you. I know how you’re feeling. Never be afraid to ask for help. If no one has asked how you’re doing today, then just know I’m here and I care.