I Need Help Keeping The Mask On

[Its_ok_to_not_be_ok]

I'm starting to loose it, I'm normally always acting like I'm fine but I'm starting to slip and I cant deal with this. I don't want my parents to know or worry as I'm moving out, any tips on how to keep the mask on, the only thing that actually made me happy has left me so now I'm stuck on the last straw, I'm normally really good at staying "good" but nah man its starting to go... Help Me Please!

[geoff]

Hello Its ok to not be ok, the mask we use to pretend that there is nothing wrong slowly becomes thinner or we may forget to wear it, that's not intentional, but can easily happen when someone who made you happy is no longer with you makes it difficult not to show your disappointment and by being a parent we can see through the mask and know how you are feeling but we have to be discrete when we approach you.

I'm very sorry this has happened and know what lies ahead for you without the mask and moving into a new place, so please don't suffer from all of this by yourself and hope we can still talk.

It is ok to not be ok because of your emotions and how you feel are truly valid and can't disappear no matter how hard you try to push them away, talk about them with your doctor, to begin with.

We hope to hear back from you because we want to help you.

Geoff.

[Gambit87]

Hi,

welcome to the forums! it takes alot of strength to reach out.

As a person who wore the mask for the better part of 10 years, I can honestly say you are much better off without it.

Your pain, emotions and feelings are valid! and trying to hide them behind 'the mask' only makes things worse in the long run.

opening up to my friends and family about how I was feeling and how I was going in life really lifted a weight from my shoulders and felt very liberating. I encourage you reach out and talk about it.

we're with you.

[quirkywords]

Hi
welcome to the forum.

I find that when I wore a mask it didn’t make me feel better as I felt I wasn’t being true to myself. Keeping the mask in place is exhausting.

Geoffa d Gambit have given helpful suggestions.

there are people who can support you and you are not alone.

[shrivelled_mushroom]

hi

i’m in a similar situation to you where my parents think i’m getting better and i don’t want to tell them otherwise because they seem so pleased with me right now. just know that you’re not alone... maybe it’s time for both of us to take our masks off as hard as that seems...

[geoff]

Hello Shrivelled mushroom, a very good comment to add to 'Its ok to not be ok' thread, because when we believe ' think I’m getting better and I don’t want to tell them otherwise' maybe a situation where you could be, but not necessarily so, pretending and still carrying the mask in your hand, just in case it has to be used, but are we looking out for how our parents are feeling and not ourselves.

There maybe a fear of some type of rejection, in whatever form this maybe, the worry of being looked down at and that's a heavy burden for you to carry, because when any type of depression suddenly appears, it's you who needs the help.

It's a good comment.

Geoff.

[AnonymousID]

I'm not going to tell you how you should open up to the ones you care about because then I would be a hypocrite. Though you should seek help from a professional. You need to talk through things with them and develop skills to help you when you move out. If you move out and don't feel safe I encourage you to seek help immediately. Someone wise gave me the advice that people would rather hear that your thinking of doing dangerous than you have done something dangerous. I'm currently working with professionals to get by and I hope you will do the same