The Silence in Suffering

 I recently had an interaction with patient who is similar age as me and a mom, career women and entrepreneur. As this person’s healthcare provider, I am well aware of her struggles with anxiety, depression - searching for feelings of value, purpose and place on this earth. From the outsider though, it may look like she has it all. As someone who has also struggled very much internally with my mental health it really made me wonder how many women feel this way.

Today, it seems we live in a world where it’s one extreme or the other. There are those of us who prefer to keep our mental health struggles private or between our closest friends and those who post the obnoxious, yes, I said obnoxious, photos and videos on Instagram crying about how motherhood/life is so hard. Where is the happy medium…is there a happy medium?

As someone who struggled with PTSD from war related trauma, and kept it silent and compartmentalized for many years, I am aware of the damages keeping things in can do to one’s mental health. The relationships around those struggling as well. So, should praise be given to the women crying on their reels – good for you being all vulnerable and stuff. Is that reality, is that healthy or should they just put their phone on the counter and go get some fresh air? Maybe its therapeutic for the individuals to post? No judgement on my end.

I guess my point to this entire post is I’m here and I feel all the feels of being a woman, a career woman, a working mom who does not work from home, a military spouse and military member and just trying to maintain some semblance of myself through all the chaos. I know there are so many women out there feeling the same way I feel. So, whether you’re the crying girl on the gram or the one like me just kind of chilling with your thoughts and feelings, I’m here to support you! 

  • “Sisterhood is powerful.” — Robin Morgan.

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