Be brave, be strong ...

Nick -You don't always have to be so brave, you know.

 Liz - Oh, but I do, actually...

from the film 'Parent Trap'

Why do we have to be brave all the time?  Why do we show the world we are coping when deep inside we are crying, longing or searching?

My friend Bernice was very brave and showed her vulnerability in her blog post which she has kindly given me permission to share

http://newlycreative.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/one-little-word.html

Why do we see showing our inner feelings as a weakness?  We see it as a flaw and hide it - even from ourselves sometimes.  So many people are hurting and the world has no idea.  Even funny men Robin Williams and Stephen Fry suffer in silence but when they let people know "the newspapers splash it about as though it's entertainment" (Pretty Women).

Recently a friend posted on FaceBook that she was consumed with guilt  - her friend had committed suicide due to depression which she was unaware of.  How could she possibly know.  We a taught from an early age that achieving and self respect are all important.  How can we possibly open up and let the world know we can't live up to these self restraints.

Hopefully society and media will stop selling us the impossible dream and help us face reality. Then we can all come clean about depression and encourage more support and self-help so we are not so reliant on secrecy and medication.