There are a million reasons why people who suffer emotionally don't seek help. People don't seek help or treatment for fear that they can't afford it, their pride will be damaged, they'll be called an attention seeker, etc. Among these reasons, the main reason why I didn't seek immediate help when I was suffering mentally was that I didn't want to be seen as weak.

Growing up, my mother was the only reliable woman figure I had to look to. She portrayed strength in ways I didn't know was possible. In no way am I saying that me not seeking help before it was almost too late was anyone's fault — it wasn't. However, it is because I had such a strong role model growing up that I felt I was capable of handling my emotional distress alone. If my mom could handle a separation, being a single mother, working two full-time jobs, and raising two toddlers then I could handle the occasional feeling of sadness that I felt.