Suffering in Silence

@philosophicalBike2885 Yes, I know how this feels. I feel like it is impossible for people who do not have a mental health disorder to truly understand what it is like to suffer from that disorder. If they say they understand how you feel, to me that just implies that they are thinking of a time when they felt scared or sad and think that is what it must be like for you to suffer from an anxiety disorder or depression. Without having suffered from a mental health disorder oneself it is impossible to truly know how hard it is and what it feels like. If people think that your ways of coping with your disorder (such as anxiety alleviating measures) are weird it is because they have no idea what it is like to suffer like that. What I have learned from living with several mental health disorders is not to judge people for their suffering and for how they are coping with it.

It can be a lonely and isolating experience when you are surrounded by people who do not understand what you are going through; as your title says it feels like you are suffering in silence. That is why I like to connect with people who do get it, for example in 7cups. Even if you're surrounded by people who just don't get it, there is always the option of finding people who do. People who can relate to your experience and respect you for dealing with a mental health disorder every day. It has helped me feel somewhat less alone. I hope that over time you will also find people who understand, so that you don't have to suffer in silence so much.