I want to talk about something that’s been weighing on me.

I live with ADHD, CPTSD, depression, and anxiety. And while I’ve been trying to do the right things therapy, DBT, mindfulness groups, working with a psychiatrist the truth is, that’s not always enough.

Recently, my old therapist had health issues and I had to find a new one. In the meantime, I was left for almost a month without the one person I felt I could really unload on. I couldn’t talk about starting ADHD medication, the headaches I was having from adjusting to it, or the mountain of unprocessed trauma, stress and grief sitting on my chest.

And here’s the problem, you can’t just patch mental health struggles with groups and appointments and meds. People need support systems. They need friends or family they can turn to, people who will actually listen without cutting the conversation short or glazing over like what I’m saying is too much.

I don’t call people because I expect them to fix me. I call because I need to get the storm out of my head. I need someone to sit with me in it. But too often, it feels like I’m overwhelming the other person or like I’m too much. I feel it’s rare that someone decides to check in on me just to make sure I’m okay, or just tries to reach out cause it has been awhile.

I’m not fragile. I’m not a porcelain doll. And I don’t want to be avoided because of my diagnoses. The truth is, listening to someone else’s struggles actually helps me get a break from my own. I’m a good listener. But I have to be given the chance.

I’m tired of the stigma. I’m tired of feeling like I have to chase connection. I just want people to understand that mental health isn’t about being fixed. Sometimes it’s just about being heard.