Introduction
I used to think that the happiest people were never sad, but I was wrong. Turns out that the happiest people have had some pain in their lives — they just learned how to deal with it. And today, I’m going to share how you can be one of those happy people who hides their pain behind a smile so well that no one knows you’re hurting inside.
The world isn’t always a kind place.
The world is not always a kind place.
People can be cruel, mean and hurtful. Sometimes the world is violent and sometimes it isn’t, but either way we must face it all and find a way to live with ourselves in spite of it. This can be difficult for anyone at any time, but for some people the difficulty is greater because they have experienced more pain than others or have been forced to bear more sorrows than most could ever fathom.*
Sometimes the way we grew up affects our mental health.
I have experienced many of the same things that you have. Growing up, I was a lonely child who never felt like I belonged. My father was an alcoholic, and my mother worked hard to support us by working multiple jobs. These circumstances shaped the way I saw myself and how others around me saw me.
You may be feeling alone right now because of your parents’ mental illness, or because they were unable to provide for you in some way or another during your childhood. This can make someone feel like a burden on others or as if they don’t belong anywhere at all.
The good news is that we can change this! It’s not too late for us to find our place in this world and learn how to care for ourselves as well as those around us
Sometimes we don’t get enough sleep.
It’s important to get enough sleep. Sleep deprivation can cause depression and other mental health issues, but it can also affect your physical health. If you’re not getting enough sleep, you may be more prone to obesity and high blood pressure.
It’s hard to say how much sleep someone needs because everyone is different. Some people require less than six hours each night while others need up to nine or 10. The best way to determine if you’re getting enough restful shut-eye is by paying attention to how tired you feel during the day: if thoughts of napping keep floating through your head when you don’t have time for one, this probably means that nighttime isn’t providing all the restorative benefits it should be
Sometimes we have chronic pain that we can’t control.
Chronic pain can be a challenging condition to live with, but it’s important to remember that there are ways you can manage your symptoms. Chronic pain often results from inflammation, nerve damage or injury. It may be caused by a number of conditions including arthritis, cancer, fibromyalgia and diabetes.
Chronic pain can be treated with medication and therapy. If you have chronic pain due to injury or surgery then you should follow your doctor’s recommendations regarding medication; however if the cause is something like arthritis then these types of treatments will not work well for you since they don’t address the underlying problem.
Sometimes our jobs are stressful.
It’s important to recognize that stress can be a contributing factor to mental health issues, and workplace stress is no exception. If you’re experiencing high levels of stress at work, it might be time to talk with your boss or another colleague about your feelings. If you don’t feel comfortable talking with your boss about it, consider confiding in someone else who works there—a coworker, manager or HR representative—and ask for help finding a solution.
Sometimes the best thing we can do for ourselves is take an honest look at how much responsibility we carry on our shoulders. When we see how much we’re doing alone, it’s easier to understand why so many of us feel overwhelmed by life in general—and this realization often gives way to gratitude for those who’ve helped us along the way (whether they know it or not).
Sometimes other people let us down.
“It’s okay to feel sad about it,” Dr. Kristin Neff, author of Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself, told Psychology Today. “You don’t have to deal with your life alone.”
Don’t be afraid to ask for help from people you trust, whether it’s a friend or family member or a professional counselor or psychologist. You may even find that you can get some relief from talking out your problems with a trained listener who will listen without judgment and help guide you through the healing process.
The key is not bottling your feelings inside—this only makes them worse by giving them time and space to fester in your head. Keeping everything bottled up also keeps others in the dark about what’s going on with you, which can lead them away from helping out or offering their support if they’re unaware of how much pain they’re causing right now (and how much courage it takes just being honest).
Sometimes we do things to ourselves that cause us harm.
Self-harm is much more common than people think. It can take many forms, from cutting and burning your skin, to punching holes in walls or punching yourself. There are many reasons why people turn to self-harm as a coping mechanism:
- To relieve stress
- To deal with depression/anxiety
- Because it’s fun! (No really.)
If you’re struggling with self-harm, there are ways that you can talk to someone about it. Reach out if:
- You’ve tried before and failed at stopping your behavior
- You’re afraid of hurting yourself in the future
Some tips for getting help include contacting a mental health professional or calling a suicide hotline.
No matter what, you’re never alone! There’s always someone who cares about you. Even if they’re not close by, they care about you and would want to talk or help you.
It’s a lot easier to hide your feelings when you believe that no one will care about them. The reality is that there are so many people who want to help, but don’t know how. If you’re struggling with depression, anxiety or any other mental illness, the best thing you can do for yourself is reach out and ask for help.
Even if it feels like everyone else knows what they want in life and where they belong, it doesn’t mean that’s how things will turn out for everyone else—you included! Take some time today to look back on what has brought you here and think about what steps may be necessary before making any big decisions moving forward. The most important thing is not knowing if something will work out or not; rather it’s knowing that everything happens for a reason and this was just part of the journey towards finding your purpose.
The secret is: You have friends who care about you even if they haven’t spoken with each other recently—and even if none of them could have possibly known at the time how much their friendship would mean until later on down life’s road…
Reach out, talk to someone — it will make you feel better!
If you’re feeling like life is getting the best of you, reach out to someone. Talk to a friend or family member. Tell them what’s going on and how they can help. If they don’t know what to say or do, try talking to a counsellor — whether that means seeing someone in person at a clinic or visiting an online therapy website like BetterHelp.com (a site I’ve worked with). You can also talk to a doctor about finding ways for your mind and body to feel better.
Another option is contacting a therapist; some therapists specialize specifically in helping people who are experiencing depression and anxiety issues just like yours! If none of these options seem right for you, consider other options such as coaching services or religious leaders who might be able to offer guidance during this difficult time in your life:
Conclusion
If you’re feeling like life is getting too much right now, take a look at what the happiest people do. They don’t think less of themselves or their problems, they just try to find ways to handle them and move past them. Reach out and talk to someone — it will make you feel better!
