I Hate This Picture. Mental Health, Society, Life

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What is Happiness?

🤍 Literal Definition: “A state of well-being and contentment.” Synonym: Joy

“A pleasurable or satisfying experience.”

🤍Let’s Talk: Happiness means different things for everyone. What brings one person joy makes another miserable lol But how do you know if you’re GENUINELY happy? To be honest, I don’t know the last time I was. I can recall times I enjoyed things but actual happiness? Not consumed with anxiety, my mind thinking of a hundred other things, etc? I really am not sure.

This day and age people sit in front of screens scrolling through social media, looking at “perfect” looking couples, families, etc. They begin to form an unrealistic expectation of how their life should be. Let’s face it, most of what we see on social media is edited in some way, the happiest couples and families often are the complete opposite, and people spend more time arranging their food or drink for a picture than actually enjoying it. They probably end up throwing it out lol Yet people still want their lives to be this so called “perfect” life. We are used to celebrities, make up, etc. But it’s gotten out of hand. There’s 10 year olds that can do their makeup better than I can 😂

People have struggled for years with mental health and the stigma surrounding it. Now it’s even worse. People are growing up in a world where they are essentially forced to be a person they aren’t whether through a full face of makeup that hides their natural beauty, filters on photos, fake photos hiding a life that’s actually in shambles just to “fit in” or look good for thousands of followers they don’t even know, etc.

“If only they’d said something sooner.” That line is heard too often after a person ends their life. More and more people are doing so lately. Whether it’s pressure from public as a celebrity, peers, trauma a person is suppressing, etc most only notice and care when there’s no longer anything they can do. They later look back and “see the signs.” Maybe they just didn’t want to deal with them back then, found it annoying a person wasn’t happy 24/7, didn’t take the time to understand a person trying to ask for help, or were just too oblivious. But there’s too many people suffering. Mental health, domestic violence victims and so many more. Do you know the signs of someone being abused? Many signs are often subtle since it’s not always physical abuse. And it’s not a simple “just walk away.” Do you know how to help someone who may be dealing with addiction, depression, etc? Saying “it’ll be better, just exercise, etc” isn’t the answer.

If you have some time and are looking for something to do, go on your laptop, tablet or phone and research statistics, signs of abuse, victim impact statements and more. Gain some insight by hearing from victims of domestic violence, those dealing with addiction, mental illness, etc. Many are labeled as “crazy” because no one took the time to understand them. Sylvia Plath was an amazing poet. She dealt with depression and used poetry to express a lot. If you read what she’s trying to express and understand metaphors and other references it’s more than just a cry for help. She’s also trying to open up. Many find it hard to express themselves, how they feel, what they’re going through because they don’t want to be judged, feel ashamed, are scared, or think no one will understand them.

Go online and try and understand some of what people dealing with certain things have felt or are feeling so you can better relate, research things to look out for so you can possibly save a life or find help for yourself…and maybe find that you aren’t alone with some struggles too. Since I know many on here are struggling with a lot. Eating disorders, anxiety, depression, chronic illnesses, trauma. You are not alone. I UNDERSTAND more than you know too.

🤍 Takeaway IT’S OK NOT TO BE OK. It’s ok to be yourself. It’s ok to be quirky, silly, nerdy, funny, glamorous. End of the day, you have to figure out who you are. That won’t happen overnight. You often have to go through a lot to really discover the real you, and not the person you THINK you’re supposed to be.

🤍 My Story: I will slowly be sharing and writing more about things I have gone through in my life many have no idea about. I’m used to being there for others. So topics I write about are often because I have dealt with something similar. I hope to share more as I used to use writing as an outlet. I am still trying to find my purpose and myself every day.

In this picture I look happy and I remember people commenting that on social media. I also remember being afraid to post it because I critiqued every little element and felt the need to look perfect, and didn’t.

But people saying how happy I looked….In reality? This picture was taken while I was in a relationship that nearly killed me. I HATE this picture because it reminds me of that, but also because I see every single imperfection and as someone that has struggled with an eating disorder? There’s a reason I usually don’t post pictures of me in a bathing suit.