“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean it is not real?”- Albus Dumbledore.
Living with a mental illness is isolating.
You can start to feel like no one sees you or your struggles. It can cause challenges in your daily life. People cannot see what you’re going through but that doesn’t mean it is not real. That doesn’t mean you are alone.
When Dumbledore said this, It felt like he was telling me it is okay that you struggle sometimes. It is not all in your head, you are not alone, and you are not crazy. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in our thoughts and in our heads, that we start to lose sight of what is going on around us. We start to question our feelings and sometimes even our sanity. However, it is important to remember just because you cannot see something doesn’t mean it isn’t real, or valid.
Take feelings for example. Just because they are in your head doesn’t mean they aren’t real, or valid, or that you shouldn’t be feeling them. Feelings are okay to have. They are real and everyone has them. Silently struggling is hard, and you should know that you are not alone and that your struggle is valid and real. Seeking therapy for something like this can help ease the isolation and reinforce the idea that what you are going through is real, valid and can be helped.
Living with an invisible illness, be it a mental illness or physical one, is always challenging. It can feel like people are constantly against you, or that you are making it up. But remember, just because it is in your head, and no one can see it, doesn’t mean that it isn’t real.
If you are feeling overwhelmed and need some guidance or support please feel free to contact Amy Wine Counseling Center at 832-421-8714. We would be privileged to be with you in your struggles.
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