battles with mental illness
Start writing a post
Student Life

It's okay To Not be okay Every once in a while

You aren't alone.

209
It's okay To Not be okay Every once in a while
Photo by kevin laminto on Unsplash

There is more than one side to every person. You meet someone and you see what they want you to see, nothing more. You might take guesses about who they are and what they've been through, but you will never really know the whole truth.

When you are curled up in bed or punching your steering wheel in some desolate parking lot and the world feels like it's crumbling around you as tears stream down your face, you tell yourself that you'll never judge someone again. You are convinced that you will always remember to think, first and foremost, that each person you meet has had moments just like that one, and you know nothing about it. You realize that it isn't fair to try and assume things about a person because there is a lot they are trying to hide from you.

And you do the same thing. You aren't open about your struggles. You bottle up all that pain and anger and you wait until you're alone to let it consume you. And you somehow convince yourself that you're alone in your struggles, as though no one else could possibly understand. You tell yourself that your situation is an anomaly and you are embarrassed by it. You couldn't possibly show the world the true nature of your life, because no one could relate to you, right? Wrong.

The reality is, your back-door personality is nothing to be ashamed of. Everyone has things they are hiding. Everyone has struggles they don't want to own up to. So much of the stress we face each day stems from social anxiety – from the fear that our image won't hide the reality well enough.

Each of us wears a mask. It is a mask that we have worked to create since we were young, and each day we add something to it. Every morning we put it on, and no matter how we really feel, the mask is smiling for us. It is habit to wear it each day, a habit we will probably never break. The only time we take it off is when we are alone. And, even then, sometimes even we don't want to look in the mirror without it.

But the thing to remember is that everyone wears a mask, not just you. No matter how honest or comfortable people are with their true selves, they wear a mask in order to survive day-to-day. Exposing every part of yourself to everyone you meet would be too much, but never removing your mask is not enough.

You have to find people you trust and share with them the parts of yourself that you aren't proud of. Share the demons you constantly have to battle and the darknesses that plague you. And show them that they can do the same, because even if you don't share the same struggles, you can understand and empathize with them.

It is okay to not be okay. It is okay to have moments of darkness. It is okay to not want to talk about it. But it isn't okay to think you are alone. You are not alone. I will say this again. You are not alone. Everyone is fighting battles every day, and everyone is hiding it. Don't be ashamed to not be okay; you don't have to wear your mask every day. You don't always need to be okay. Stay strong.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

52051
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

33437
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

956274
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

181186
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments