Living with mental illness

 Living with depression, anxiety,  and PTSD can be one big suck fest. You want to be happy and it isn't easy. You have people who say get over it or you are lazy. Not what you want to hear. It just makes it worse.  They say they understand and tell you what to do which upsets you even more.  It can be overwhelming. Sometimes people hear us but don't actually listen. Healing isn't easy and doesn't happen at the snap of fingers. Sometimes having depression or anxiety or any form of mental illness sometimes makes us sound like a broken record.  Many don't call or text first because they feel like a burden or they are bothering people.  Some days we like people and other days we don't like people at all. Every person handles things differently and sometimes we fall back down the dark tunnel and can't see the light.  We criticize ourselves. Don't think we deserve the best even though everyone deserves the best just like everyone deserves love.  It is hard to love you, it can be done.  Yes,there will be good and bad days.  Cut out toxic people. Focus on you.  It is not selfish to focus on you or do things for yourself. Surround yourself with people who do actually care, actually listen,  actually love you, and accept you. Nobody is perfect.  If you need to see a therapist or psychiatrist don't feel bad about it.  They are there to help. There are going to be days you don't want to get out of bed or days you just don't feel it. It is okay to cry,yell,scream,  and let it out.  Bottling it up isn't healthy.  Try to do things you love doing. Don't give up hope.  I know sometimes it feels like the end of the world.  Just like sometimes you want to feel something or nothing at all. It is okay to not be okay.  It is okay not to smile.  It is okay to not wear a mask. It is okay to show your emotions.  Showing them doesn't mean you are weak. It is okay not to be strong for you and everyone around you all the time.  We are surviving it day by day.