Quote of the day

[Trav4242]

All it takes is a beautiful fake smile to hide an injured soul and they will never notice how broken you really are l.

-Robin Williams

[Dolphin14]

He was correct on that wasn't he? The poor man😢

[Hidden]

Yes. My everyday face at work.

[Trav4242 in reply to Hidden]

Its amazing how we can cover up how we feel everyday with a fake smile and a fake laugh just so people dont know the real us and how we really feel. I have been doing it for almost 20 years and only 6 people know, not one of them are from work. We become masters of hiding depression and anxiety. I was thinking the other day and was wondering why people like us have such a hard time letting others know what we are going through? It took me 6 years before I told my Dr. Why do we hide it? I was embarrassed, I felt like I was just lowest of the low to admit i had a mental problem. Why does depression and anxiety make us feel that way or am I the only one that didn't or still doesn't want people to know and when I am place I feel like everyone is looking at me and they all know I am taking meds for anxiety and depression. Is this normal?

[Billsfriend in reply to Trav4242]

Of course it's normal.

And being able to hide behind your smile is an excellent talent to have!

It keeps the creeps of the world from being able to use it against you.

I am working very hard at changing my thinking, to improve my depression, but I'm going to start working on hiding it- for those days when I fall down!

[Trav4242 in reply to Billsfriend]

I never thought about it that way. There are people that would try and use it against you, maybe that's why I have a hard time trusting people. I wish you the best in trying to improve yourself

[Billsfriend in reply to Trav4242]

Thank You Soo much. I was living in Hell for my whole life, and making Hell for those that loved me. It took 65 years, but I finally woke up. The changes are coming fast. Now I just want to be the best Husband, Father, brother, friend, employee, person etc. That I can possibly be.

[Trav4242 in reply to Billsfriend]

That is all that matters. That is why we are here is to learn from our mistakes and try to be better.

[Dolphin14 in reply to Trav4242]

The stigma is still there. Society still isn't comfortable with the illness.

I spent many years hiding behind a mask. I think in some parts of our life we have to. To function in the work place we have to have our stuff together.

I think hiding it in my private life is where I am trying to change. I've learned a lot over my many years of therapy. One thing I feel is when I hide who I am that internally I'm telling myself I'm not good enough.

I work for a doctor who happens to be my primary care physician. So she knows everything I've been through. Anyway, one day she said to me, " just walk into a room and pretend you are someone else". The discussion came up regarding a social event I didn't want to attend. I said to her if I pretend I'm someone else isn't that just saying who I am isn't enough. She said she believes in " fake it till you make it" I said I won't do that anymore. I'm going to be who I am and if people don't like it that's not my problem.

I got a lot of strength from that conversation.

I'm learning to be comfortable with who I am rather than pretend I'm someone I'm not.

My " mask " still comes out sometimes. But I'm working hard to accept ME my illness is part of me.

[Trav4242 in reply to Dolphin14]

I agree with you, we can't pretend to be someone else. We have to be who we are. It is not easy sometimes and we have to force ourselves but I think it makes us stronger and helps us heal. If that makes sense.

[Dolphin14 in reply to Trav4242]

I agree. The more we hide the more we are telling ourselves something is wrong with us.

[Kainan in reply to Dolphin14]

I think that’s just very bad advice to give someone, and it’s disingenuous. To pretend to be someone else is insanity. It might work for a little while, but it won’t last. Your true nature will eventually catch up to you and the pressure of trying to be somebody you’re not will appear overwhelming. And this dichotomy might turn into something worse. Good for you for being yourself and knowing who you are and being comfortable with it.

[Dolphin14 in reply to Kainan]

Totally agree, I have to say my MD has no knowledge of mental health. I've told her to stay out of my mental health business and leave it to my psychiatrist.

[Kainan in reply to Dolphin14]

Yeah that’s a smart idea

[UnderstandingMyPain]

☺️ 👉🏽 💔

[Hidden]

I do that every day. No one notices and that's the way I want it to be

[Booklover0219]

I think we have to do this. We have to keep trying to do the best we can and we can’t trust just anybody. I definitely smile and laugh and hide the pain. I guess I think of it as moving on with my life. I share the truth with you guys and my counselor.

[rubyslipper]

Does anyone know how to delete replies from iPhone ten. No tech savy. Trying to get rid of old info Thks

[rubyslipper]

Not tech savy. Typing boo boo. Sorry