Growing up, for a very long time, I felt like a misfit in my own family. While everyone else seemed to do things with ease and succeed in life, an invisible weight of mental stress sapped my ability to live mine like the rest of them. I was too terrified to admit what I felt, so I kept it bottled up inside.
The sleepless nights, nausea, rapid-fire outlet of thoughts, and sorrowful days all went hand in hand without another soul in the world knowing how I felt. One day, I realised I could not carry the burden on my own. The primary step was the acknowledgement of the fact that my feelings were valid, even though no one else understood.
I began writing in a journal daily—it was my safe space to express what I could not share. Therapy was the game-changer. Talking to a professional helped me unpack my emotions and gave me tools to navigate tough moments.
I also leaned into self-care and rituals: a walk in the park, a comforting playlist, and mindfulness exercises became my go-to. I stopped waiting for them to "get it"; I started building a support system around and beyond my family. Friends, online forums, and even books became the lifeline that ended my state of shame and loneliness.
Coping was not easy, but I learned that: I may not control how others view my struggles, but I can control how I heal. And that's enough. If you feel that way too, here are five ways to cope when you're the only one in the family struggling with poor mental health: Admit Your Feelings Understand .