how much pain did we choose to hide until were fully submerged in it

The Silent Burden: How We Choose to Hide Pain Until It Engulfs Us

We all carry burdens, some heavier than others. But there's a peculiar human tendency to bury our pain, to shove it down, to pretend it doesn't exist. We smile through tears, laugh through heartache, and wear a mask of normalcy even when our insides are crumbling. This isn't always malicious; it's often a survival mechanism, a way to navigate a world that can feel overwhelming.

But the truth is, pain doesn't disappear just because we ignore it. It festers, grows, and eventually, it bursts forth, often in ways we never anticipated. We build walls around our hearts, convinced they'll protect us, only to find ourselves trapped within, suffocating under the weight of our own silence.

Why do we do this? Fear plays a significant role. Fear of judgment, fear of rejection, fear of appearing weak. We worry about the burden we might place on others, so we choose to carry it alone, believing it's easier to suffer in silence than to risk vulnerability.

But the cost of this silence is immense. It robs us of connection, of support, of the healing power of shared experience. It isolates us, leaving us feeling alone in our struggles. And when the pain finally breaks through, it often does so with a force that can be overwhelming, leaving us feeling shattered and lost.

There's a delicate balance to be struck. We can't simply wallow in our pain, but we also can't pretend it doesn't exist. We need to find a way to acknowledge it, to process it, to allow ourselves to feel it without letting it consume us. This might mean seeking professional help, confiding in a trusted friend or family member, or simply allowing ourselves to cry when we need to.

The journey of healing is rarely easy, but it's a journey worth taking. By choosing to face our pain, to acknowledge it, and to seek support, we can begin to break free from the cycle of silence and find a path towards healing and wholeness.