Fear over story feedback
It's just as the title says. There's this story I've been wanting to make about my struggles with mental health and now I'm finally getting the chance to work on it again, but I'm so nervous I'm almost feeling sick. What I want is people's empathy, to show how hard it is to struggle when you don't have any support or help. But now I'm scared people won't see it that way. "Oh she's just crazy", "oh that just shows how nuts those people are," "she's so dramatic and sensitive, this whole thing is stupid."
I guess what I'm saying is I'm too scared to work on it right now, because now I'm terrified of the repercussions. Will people understand what I'm trying to say and try to be kinder to each other, or just dismiss it and throw it away? I don't know, I think I've just had a hard time these last few years and I don't know what to expect anymore.
@HidaYasu Hi! Writing a story about mental health sounds like a lovely idea that could bring a lot of awareness. I definitely understand the fear that it won't get through to some people and they'll have a negative view of it, but I think writing about it could help you process some of those challenges you've been through, even if you decide not to share it. If you're nervous about what others will think, one thing that could help would be to write it first, then think about whether you want to show it to anyone, and if so, what distribution you're looking for. Do you want a few close friends/family/trusted people to look at it, or other people in your life? Do you want to publish on a larger platform/have any ideas for where you want to publish? Do you want to use a pen name/remain anonymous? I think deciding who will see this story could help a bit with easing your anxieties (if you're very worried, maybe start out with a community that's supportive of mental health!).