The Mask

*Insert multiple quotes from the movie The Mask*...  

Have you gone around lately wearing a mask that hides how you really feel?  Many times we can go around and tell people that we are fine, but deep down you know that you are anything but fine.  Most of the time we are actually battling something that may seem impossible to overcome at the time.  Often times I find myself saying that I am fine because I don't want to dredge up what I am feeling and I just honestly want to be left alone with my emotions.  I know that may sound childish, but sometimes our child wins *shrugs*.  A lot of times we can put on a different "mask" for how we feel, or how we want the world to see how we feel.  We often times have to act like we are doing well to keep up the appearance for others around us.  However hiding that emotion is only hurting you more than helping.  Yes we can hide behind a mask that we create, but in the end you will never grow from wearing that mask.  We will only be hindered by hiding behind what we think is safe and we grow complacent where we are in life.  Have you ever seen the commercial for a antidepressant company that shows the woman holding up a happy face, while behind the mask she is miserable?  Well I tend to picture that is how a lot of us act, we want people to perceive that we are happy and our lives are great, but we could actually be in turmoil.  For the love of all that is holy, don't let yourself fade away in the current spot you are in.  There is help.  There is hope.  There is a way out of that feeling.

For today:  Take that step and get in contact with your doctor.  Feeling this way will only hurt you in the long run.  You are only going to continue hurting yourself and your thoughts by staying in this state of emotion.  I know that a lot of times we see going to the doctor as a weakness, but in reality the strongest people are the ones who want to stand up for themselves and to better their futures.  I know that we face a stigma in today's society, but forget that stigma.  I'd rather see someone going to the doctor or therapist each week that is trying to get better than to watch someone deteriorate behind their mask.  "Among the giants we still stand tall", stand tall against what you are facing today and try to take one step in the right direction.  I have battled with this for a while, for years in fact.  Looking back on it over my life, I realized that anxiety and depression have stopped me from doing a lot of things that I wish I had done.  I put myself down before I even started or freaked myself out so much that I ran away.  Don't run away from your emotions, but rather take that first step to finding your better days.

Until next time! 

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