A smile is something we all have in common.

Have you ever taken a photo and smiled so big no one could have guessed you had a breakdown just an hour prior? Do you look so convincing that you are happy and well but inside you’re being eaten alive by anxiety sensations? Is 911 on speed dial a thought you have had to save you from the symptoms anxiety and panic cause you - thinking you’re about to have a heart attack any second? Do you ever just want to feel numb from the vicious wave of panic and hide in a hole and escape the world and all the over stimulation being thrown your way like daggers?

That was today. That has been many days for me. Behind a smile there can be much pain and struggle. Behind laughter there can be the weight of the world falling onto you. Behind it all, you might be at your breaking point or reaching a new low you cannot cope with. Perception is not reality. AGAIN…perception is not reality. Just because everything looks fine and dandy from the outside does NOT mean it is.

One of the hardest things about battling mental health is that no one can see it. Sometimes I wish I could swap mental for a physical challenge- then maybe others would understand and be more empathetic towards the struggles that comes with. I wouldn’t have to explain it over and over but they would just see it and know something is wrong. It’s hard suffering from mental health and it can be very lonely especially when most people don’t understand unless they have experienced that severity themselves.

A smile can hide a lot, but it will never hide how strong, brave, and courageous you are for having to face this everyday. 💚