This is mental illness.

Cuts all over my legs.

Unshowered in days.

Messy room.

Lack of sleep from being in hospital.

Puffy eyes from crying.

This is the stereotype for mental illness.

This is mental illness.

Smiling.

Clean.

Makeup and hair.

Dressed.

Rested.

This is the stereotype for ‘okay’.

Mental illness doesn’t come in a ‘look’.

Mental illness doesn’t have a face.

Mental illness can be a smile.

Mental illness can be a laugh.

Don’t assume people are okay because they look ‘okay’.

I promised to speak my truth, and this is it.

Just because I look okay, it doesn’t mean I’m okay.

Just because somebody looks okay, doesn’t mean they’re okay.

Mental illness isn’t just about always looking sad, or having cuts on your arms, or going weeks without cleaning. Mental illness can also be about smiling to mask the pain, or laughing to hide the cries, or loving instead of hurting.

Mental illness can be anywhere.

Check on your loved ones; you never know what really is behind a smile.