It comes the time I must admit to myself and everyone else that I’m tired. I was sharing with a friend that it’s tiring to be constantly on. Productive. Engaging. Connecting. Endless tasks and movement are the trophy we are seeking to attain. The pandemic and societal expectations want us to be ready for anything at the drop of a hat – that’s unreasonable.

Someone asks how we’re doing, and how many of us say, “I’m good! How are you?” when we may be tired, or stressed, or overwhelmed? Why not share the truth? Otherwise, we all remain productive robots that carry the pain and the burdens as part of our hidden wiring.

If you are choosing to hide those parts, I know the heaviness they have on you. Those things can cause lowered productivity and motivation to do the things we enjoy. They cause an unshakeable fatigue and hypervigilance. I encourage you to share those parts of yourself with just one person, one thing.

You don’t have to scream from the rooftops of your struggles, but sharing them or writing them down removes the grasp of their power. Just because you hide them well doesn’t mean they’re not heavy.

Kristen Ellis

Kristen has worked in the mental health field since 2013, with a focus on crisis work, substance use services, and bringing a voice to lived experience. Her ambition is to change the way mental health care and recovery is seen and achieved, so to redefine what it means to defeat adversity.