Latest
The Weight of Invisible Struggles: What It’s Like to Live with Hidden Challenges
Introduction
There is an immeasurable amount of exhaustion that comes with fighting a battle that nobody else can see. Mental health struggles aren’t visible to the outside word. It’s easy for others to misunderstand, dismiss, or even ignore what you’re going through emotionally. I’ve personally experienced this. Those firsthand moments where I was barely holding myself together. To everyone else, I just seemed “fine.”
Living in an invisible shield can feel isolating. Certain conditions like anxiety, depression, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, and bipolar disorder have underlying consequences if left unaware. I have those conditions. It’s difficult that people may not believe you’re struggling simply because they can see it. However, just because something isn’t visible to the naked eye, it doesn’t mean that it isn’t real.
What Are Invisible Mental Health Struggles?
Invisible mental health struggles don’t always have the obvious physical signs of a disorder. Unlike a broken leg or a visible wound, these challenges remain buried beneath the surface. Conditions like mine affect millions of people, yet they often are ignored or unrecognized by those around us.
Just because there is no physical proof of these struggles, many people assume that everything is fine. However deep down to our core, we are anything but fine. Receiving certain comments such as, “you seem happy,” can be very frustrating. Neurodivergents often disregard their mental and emotional inner turmoil, and mask who they truly are deep down.
The Emotional Toll of Masking
One of the most challenging parts of living with internal struggles is acting as if there aren’t any symptoms. Masking is hiding from yourself and trying to appear “normal,” to avoid judgment. I’ve spent my whole life pretending to be okay. I’d smile when I felt like breaking down. I’d laugh during moments that I wanted to cry. I’d push through the mental exhaustion just to avoid awkward and uncomfortable conversations.
Masking is truly draining to the body and soul. It’s like carrying an invisible weight on your shoulders trying to convince everyone, and yourself, that everything is okay. This eventually leads to a burnout, meltdown, increased anxiety, and deeper feelings of isolation and neglect.
Feeling Unseen and Misunderstood
When other people don’t notice your struggles, it’s easy to feel invalidated. Things like, “It’s all in your head,” or “Just be more positive,” can be somewhat detrimental. These phrases, even though well-intended, easily dismiss the reality mental health struggles. It makes it harder to get through each day, and those challenges we face, can feal like a screaming void. A desperate call to be seen and heard but constantly being overlooked.
The Importance of Self-Advocacy
With time, I’ve learned that self-advocacy is vital. We may not be able to control how others see us, but we can take charge of how we communicate our needs. By being honest about your struggles, you can be vulnerable and let others in. Instead of pushing people away, it’s better to be open then bottling it all up inside. This helps people to better understand what it is like for us daily.
Setting boundaries is important. You don’t have to say yes to everything. It’s okay to say no. Something that has taken me a long time to get around. I’ve learned that I can rest when I need to and step away from that things that might be harmful to my well-being. Being in therapy has really helped me, along with some medications. I feel like I’ve finally gotten on track, and I’m hoping to keep it that way. Getting support either through therapy, or friends and family can be life changing. It’s reassuring that I’m not going through this alone.
How Others Can Be More Supportive
It’s important to continue surrounding yourself with people who make you feel safe and comfortable. These are the people who will support you and make you feel more seen and less judged. The best way to go about the situation is to just listen. Not every comment needs an explanation. Just believe them when they are being open about their internal struggles. Check-in with them occasionally, to simply ask, “How are you doing.” A phrase that doesn’t seem like a lot but has so much underlying value. Also, just be patient. The process of healing isn’t linear. Some days will be much more difficult than others.
Educating yourself and staying up to date with the latest research and information is incredibly beneficial for you and your loved one. It fosters awareness and a deeper understanding. It generates new ideas, provides factual guides and examples of similar situations. It helps everyone feel a part of the community, and by being immersed in it. A community that is strong, yet still small. We need more advocates to really stand out amongst the crowd.
Conclusion
These struggles often go unnoticed, but that doesn’t invalid them. We shouldn’t just assume that everyone is okay because they put on a brave face. These struggles matter, and just because you can’t visibly see the pain and suffering, doesn’t mean that it isn’t there. You don’t need anyone’s permission to take care of yourself. Stand tall and be proud of your authenticity. There is no one else in the world like you, and that is something to be uniquely cherished. Together we can create a world where no one must suffer in silence. We just need to raise more awareness and gain more advocates for our cause. Overall, I just want you to know that your feelings are valid, you’re seen, you’re heard, and you’re not broken.
“Just because no one else can heal or do your inner work for you, doesn’t mean you can, should, or need to do it alone.” — Lisa Olivera
#MentalHealth #ADHD #Anxiety #Depression #AutismSpectrumDisorder #struggles
13 reactions •
2 comments
