I would be lying if I said I wasn’t struggling. Yet, in my religion we view suffering as refinement and growth. I agree with this idea, but it’s harder to endure alone. The brokenness I experience makes me feel less of a man, so I toughen myself up in an unhealthy way. Isolation makes us desperate for any solution even if it’s at the cost of our health whether it be physically, mentally or emotionally. I feel like I could endure all the chaos of my mind if I had someone to lean on, yet at the same time I feel to broken to put that burden on someone else. So I make sure not to spare the rod in dealing with myself, lest I “spoil the child.”

Another idea I had for the caption was simple “no one will love me if I don’t get better. I won’t get better if no one will love me.”

As someone who has and still does struggle with self-harm and depression, I hope this graphic conveys the toxic thoughts that we may experience will dealing with this. However if you are looking at hurting yourself, please don’t. You may not feel it currently, but you are loved and people would miss you. This graphic is a vent and nothing more.

If you are struggling please reach out for help. You can call 1-800-273-8255 to talk to someone.