I NEED TO SCREAM
I'm Tired of Pretending I'm Okay
When hiding how you really feel becomes exhausting
There is a particular kind of exhaustion that comes from looking okay when you are struggling underneath.
You may still go to work, answer messages, care for other people, smile, laugh and say “I'm fine”. From the outside, you may appear capable and composed. Inside, anxiety, depression, exhaustion or overwhelm may be taking up far more space than anybody realises.
This resource is part of the I Need to Scream series in the Depression & Anxiety Library. It explores what can happen when hiding how you really feel becomes another job you have to perform.
Inside, you can explore the difference between WHAT I SHOW and WHAT I REALLY FEEL, including an interactive page for the sentences you keep swallowing, what you wish somebody would notice and what you are tired of pretending.
The guide looks at why people hide distress, the emotional and physical cost of keeping everything contained, how masking can affect relationships, and how to begin becoming more honest without feeling that you have to tell everybody everything.
There is an Honesty Ladder to help you find words that feel manageable, prompts for identifying what kind of support you actually need, boundary examples, a small “5% more honest” experiment, an anonymous personal perspective and an individual message from Maggie.
You do not have to look visibly unwell for depression or anxiety to be difficult.
And you do not have to wait until you can no longer function before you are allowed to say:
I'm struggling more than I look.
Space to Breathe Therapy
Support • Understanding • A Brighter Tomorrow
