We see it all the time... Posts about mental illnesses and addictions capturing women and men with perfect figures and perfect makeup. Although these struggles can manifest its form in those ways, that is not the true face of mental illnesses and addiction.

Mental illnesses are not people with beautiful figures and a single tear streaming down their face. Mental illnesses are not the picture of a boyfriend surprising his girlfriend with gifts from Sephora just to make her happy. Anxiety is not a slight worry about a test or a fear of public speaking. Depression is not simply losing interest in something. Bipolar Disorder is not just feeling happy and then sad. ADHD is not only being unable to focus without music on. Anorexia is not just eating a couple bites less at dinner. PTSD is not only having a memory of a painful thing. Addiction is not simply taking a hit and walking off perfectly fine.

Anxiety is shaking in the middle of your school's classroom because you have to answer one question for the homework. Anxiety is locking yourself in your room because you're too scared to go out in public. Anxiety is asking someone else to speak to a salesperson for you because you can't find your voice.

Depression is laying in bed until your body aches. Depression is lifeless and bloodshot eyes. Depression is putting off the basic necessities of life (showering, eating, drinking, going to the bathroom) because you don't even have enough energy to move.

Bipolar Disorder is screaming out of anger and not remembering a word you said. Bipolar Disorder is talking so fast that people ask you to slow down every 3o seconds. Bipolar Disorder is trashing your room and then laughing within the next 45 minutes. Bipolar Disorder is blacking out and not remembering what happened in your swing until the next day.

ADHD is not being able to focus on the littlest of tasks. ADHD is needing to do five things at once just to focus on one. ADHD is telling three different stories at once while trying to get your single point across. ADHD is keeping a planner of what you have to do but still overbooking because you can't remember in the moment.

Anorexia is being told by a doctor that your body is shutting down from lack of basic nutrients. Anorexia is having an extremely warped image of what beauty is and stopping at nothing to reach that stigma. Anorexia is people asking you if you're sick and you having to make excuses why your ribs are showing.

PTSD is being overcome by flashbacks in the middle of the day. PTSD is feeling like you're back in the exact moment of your worst memories. PSTD is shutting down in public because you can't comprehend what is actually happening in the present moment. PTSD is waking up in the middle of the night screaming from night terrors.

Addiction is lying to the people you love just to get one more once of your drug of choice. Addiction is making excuses for why you were late, why your eyes are red, and why your performance in school or work is declining. Addiction is crawling on your hands and knees out of desperation. Addiction is wanting to stop your habits but not having the strength to. Addiction is feeling both euphoric and feeling like a failure at the same time.

Although people can put on a facade to cover up what they are dealing with, I can guarantee that that is not the true face of their struggle. Mental illnesses and addiction are not pretty. It never was and it never will be, so we need to stop treating it like it's a pretty problem that can be overcome by an instant decision or a surpise gift.