Any time I tell a friend about my struggles with mental illness they usually say something like, “Well, why didn’t you tell me?” or “I’m here for you if you need me.” 

I don’t doubt their words but I feel like what they don’t understand is just how OFTEN that would be. And realistically what can they even do? My mental illness is everyday. It’s part of my life. Some days are better than others but for me it’s a constant struggle. I fight from the moment I wake up to the moment I go to bed and some nights I’m even tormented in my sleep.

It’s such a lonely feeling when you’re with your loved ones and all you can think about is how you don’t want to be alive but you can’t tell them. It would ruin the day.

Who wants to be that person constantly bringing their loved ones down with their misery? So I keep my distance or I just keep it to myself.