The Power of Secrets

Secrets are difficult. Those of us with mental illness keep them out of self-preservation. We are the best actors, and many of us deserve Oscars for our daily lives. To keep jobs, aquaintances, and budding friendships, the secrets are essential. Without keeping the secrets our lives will crumble into a reality of whispers behind our backs, ignored phone calls, being fired from our jobs, or ostracized from the local social groups.

Imagine if we didn't have to keep those secrets. Imagine if we could just say it and no one would care. Imagine a world where depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, phobias, and schitzophrenia were everyday things. Like someone saying they have diabetes. "Thanks for the soda, but I'm diabetic. Do you have diet?" would be equal to "Oh, going out for drinks sounds great, but I have bipolar disorder and alcohol really messes me up. How about we go to a cafe for some coffee instead?"

My hope for the ability to not have to keep those secrets makes me love this gem. I just discovered it last week. Enjoy.

Photo Credit: "Male Mouth Covered with Tape" by stockimages