Angie, i agree with your post...
but everyone has something different there going through so the people like us need stick together, help each other, learn from our mistakes, and grow... we all need to try to be strong and supportive, and always try to be our-self.

Even when my pain showed and others KNEW I was hurting... the ppl around me simply didn't care. I found out early in life how cold MOST ppl are... but glad places like this exist.

Others can’t read our minds so we have to express our feelings to them. I am very bad about doing this myself. I like to hide my pain and keep everything inside not to bother those who have their own problems. I know this isn’t a good way to deal with it but I’m not good at expressing how I feel to people. It does make me sad though that people can’t tell that I’m dying inside. I put on a smile and they assume I’m fine but on the inside I’m crying for help. For someone to just be here and listen to me.

Hi Rachael. It's easier to do the 'put a smile on' routine - exhausting, but easier and depending on who we're interacting with, it may be the appropriate thing to do. However, with those who are close to us, being real brings a huge challenge. In order for us to reveal what is going on 'inside' means that we need to put ourselves in a place of extreme vulnerability where we risk some kind of negative response, even rejection and disconnection. We fear that because we believe to some extent that we are bad, unworthy, etc., and so feel shame. It is only when we can acknowledge that it's not that we ARE bad, but that we're in a bad situation, that we can move forward and ask for help. There is no shame in being in a place of need and asking someone to help you. TR

It's possible to hurt on the inside and for no one to know about it. I stay quiet and keep a straight face. Except for my counselor and my psychiatrist, no one ever knows how I feel all of the time

Yes, there is secret pain but did you know there is also a secret joy? And you have to hide that from people as well or they won't be happy with you. They'd be envious and they also wouldn't understand. But that's cool.

Man, I wouldn't want anyone to feel what I have felt in the past 4 years. Maybe that's why we hide our true feelings. Speaking for myself, I am very private. I don't share my life with people I am not very close too. I have several reasons for masking my pain:

- I don't want someone to use it against me (like at work)

- I don't want someone to pretend to care (I want people to be genuine not just say what they think I want them to hear)

- I don't want a pity party (sometimes I just want someone to listen, I don't want anyone to feel sorry for me)

I share my feelings with those really really close to me and that's it. I get my encouragement, compassion, empathy, etc. from them. The rest of the world will get the best me they can get considering whatever I'm going through at the time. My best days at facing the world come when I wake up early in the morning and pray before starting my day. That way, even if I'm going through difficulties, I am better prepared to handle them and face the world regardless. That way when someone asks me "how are you", I can say "fine" and it is the truth.