24/04/2026
Long post warning
Yesterday I went to work for a meting and ai had the pleasure to get a lot of hugs and a lovely warm welcome from most of them, they reminded me how much I love this team
One of them up to me, with kindness and a warm hug , and said:“I would have never imagined this from you.”
Hard to hear, but ai get it. For a long time, almost 7 years in this tema I was the smiling one. The supportive one. The one who had energy, who listened, who will be there to support and care for others, both colleagues and students.
The one who looked… fine.
But here’s something I’ve learned the hard way:
Not all struggles are visible.
Many of us who experience burnout and depression don’t “look” like we’re struggling. We learn to function. To show up. To care for others. To keep going. Sometimes we even become experts at it.
We smile.We perform.We hold space for others. And quietly we empty ourselves.
The name of this is :Masking and it often comes from:– not wanting to worry others, meeting someone else expectations, wanting to feel “normal”– being used to being the strong one– or simply not having the space to fall apart
So when someone says “I didn’t see it,” it doesn’t mean it wasn’t real.It just means it was hidden well. Normally you don’t fake depression you fake not having it.
If you take anything from this, let it be this:
When someone shares they are struggling, even if it surprises you, believe them.Meet them with softness, not disbelief.Sometimes the brightest energy you see is carrying the heaviest weight.
I’m still recovering. Still learning. Still finding my way back. And certainly , a little less hidden now.
With the help of AI I created the behind the scenes of one particular image from me.