When no one noticed
There was a time when I felt invisible — like I was screaming for help, but no one could hear me. I was surrounded by people, yet I felt completely alone. Friends didn’t check in. Family didn’t ask questions. I felt like I was fading, and no one noticed the weight I was carrying.
The loneliness of mental illness
Living with depression and bipolar disorder often feels isolating. My moods would shift, my energy would drop, and I’d pull away — not because I didn’t care, but because I was hurting. But instead of comfort, I got silence. People saw the distance but didn’t look deeper. That silence cut deep.
Wanting to be understood
All I wanted was for someone to see me — the real me. Not the version I put on for others, but the one who was hurting inside. I didn’t need anyone to fix me. I just wanted someone to notice, to say, “I see you. I care. I’m here.”
Finding my voice
Now, I’m learning how to speak up for myself. I don’t need to wait for others to see my pain — I can express it. I can share it. I’ve found strength in telling my story and power in giving voice to what I once kept hidden. I may have felt unseen then, but I see myself now — and that matters.
"There is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in."
Leonard Cohen