#WhatYouDontSee

JustV

I was reading this Buzzfeed article, today, and thought it would be a fascinating one to open up to you guys.

Back in mental health awareness week, Blurt were getting people to use the hashtag #WhatYouDontSee to illustrate what living with depression is really like, in an effort to shed some light on the lesser known struggles of people with mental health issues.



I thought this would make a good opportunity for you folks to share the side to you that you feel no one else sees, or what you wish they knew about. It doesn't have to be related to depression (or even mental health); whatever context is relevant to you. Feel free to use this as a chance to vent, too, if you like. :yes:

Former Member

I saw this hashtag while it was trending online. It was on a day when I felt like I was imagining what I felt and thought I was just complaining about nothing, so seeing others in the same position, feeling the same things, really helped me. Thanks for sharing this as a reminder!

Not sure what I'd say mine would be. Maybe "#WhatYouDon'tSee: I want to be a very different person to the one you see - I want to be outgoing and fun and get excited about stuff, but my mental health doesn't always let me do those things' Because I really don't like the way I probably come across to a lot of people. I don't want to be seen a miserable/lazy, and I want to get involved in all the fun things I used to like and have the confidence to talk to people more. Maybe one day in the future I can be that person again... I hope so

Former Member

i wrote this today in media and i feel like it is a appropriate to post on here - it is a character description of someone in my film as doing a script writing unit but i basically wrote about myself and its all about hiding who you really are.

ANDREW SIMMONDS aged nineteen, happy, caring, outgoing and friendly, the very quiet introverted guy. On the outside he seems like a very happy, fashionable and smiley young adult but he has a hidden life behind his confidence and happiness side to him which is a world of loneliness, upset and confusion. His private life is full of him beating himself up and tearing up his self-esteem and confidence; feeling very low and bad about himself. He puts on an act when he’s out around people, always overthinking everything, always looking round and feeling like he is jumping out of his skin when someone comes up to talk to him. He is very ambitious and always looking for new opportunities to boost his prospects and meet new people and he does lots of things and meets lots of new people but at the back of his mind he feels like everyone is out to get him. With his black fringe he keeps his face hidden behind all the fear and nervous energy which he has flowing around inside of him. If you met him you would think that he is a very hard-working guy as he’s never disruptive in class, but really he feels too scared to socialise in fear that he will get judged. He is the most caring and friendliest guy you will ever meet but with a hidden life that he keeps locked behind closed doors.

Former Member

This was a really cool article to read @Mike! Very insightful and touching :yes:

Really good piece you've written @jpeople111

JustV

Some really touching things here, guys.

@Past User, you're very welcome! I think your point about people not seeing the real you is a very relatable one to a lot of folks around here. I heard something brilliant from Natasha Devon (which apparently came from a therapist she once had), recently, which seems applicable:

"Everybody has the real them, and the person that they present to the world. For some people, the gap between the two is narrow.” She spreads her arms. “For some people the gap is that big. The space between those two people is where mental health issues arise, so the wider the gap, the bigger the chance that something’s going to happen."

@jpeople111, what a wonderfully written piece! I think you captured what a lot of people go through really well. Again, very relatable, I'm sure. :yes:

@raich, welcome! Glad you found it interesting.

I better add my two pence...

#WhatYouDontSee: The sheer amount of time I spend talking (sometimes singing, don't judge ) to myself, both playing out future conversations in my head and making the most of the fact I don't stutter when doing so.