Only YOU Know Whether or Not You're Okay

Oct 9, 2017
2 min read

Living with invisible illnesses/mental health issues is not easy. And the thing people often struggle with most is the fact these conditions aren’t technically visible – which leaves a lot of room for doubt in ourselves and onlookers alike.

I say: they are visible. Fatigue, indecision, sweating with anxiety – the list of signs and symptoms that affects us physically is endless. But since our limbs don’t turn purple, or we rarely break out in a rash (though of course, sometimes stress can indeed cause a rash), I am forced to admit that I understand why some people call them invisible.

In a society with impossibly high standards, that is also incredibly judgemental (though less, now, than perhaps it used to be), we have been taught to feel ashamed when we can’t live up to societal expectations. On top of this, for those who have a head full of monsters, we often experience a great deal of shame for not being able to meet social standards as well, especially because we really want to, and our limbs aren’t purple enough to prove that it’s depression rather than laziness. (I’m even starting to wonder whether “laziness” is just a myth.)

It’s so easy to doubt ourselves. Are we really depressed? Or is this just…some other thing? Is this anxiety, or am I over reacting? I’ve been riding bipolar highs and lows for a long, long time, and I can’t even count the amount of times I thought I was just weird or crazy. Don’t get me wrong, I’m weird and crazy (and I love it). But I’ve also got some serious wiring problems and being diagnosed meant I finally had a way to start treating it, and improve my life. Next time you doubt yourself, try and remember that it is your depression or anxiety that leaves you feeling this way. Take a deep breath and believe in yourself, or pretend to (fake it 'til you make it). And when other people doubt you? Do your best to ignore them. I know it’s hard, but at the end of the day, only you know whether or not you’re okay.