A few days ago, I woke up feeling blue. It’s that time of the month, and the winter gloom wasn’t helping. I’ve been taking my vitamin D and trying to stay positive, but some days, it feels like a losing battle. That morning, I felt overwhelmed, just trying to get on with my day, when I got a message from a friend.
She’s someone I care about, though we’ve never really had deep conversations before. Her message was simple: “Hello, how are you, Efemena? I just want to know, how are you coping?”
That question almost broke me. How am I coping? For the first time in a long time, I answered honestly: “I’m not good.” I told her about how I’d had a breakdown a few days ago, and even as I typed the words, I could feel the weight of them.
Her response took me by surprise. She was shocked, almost incredulous: “Why? You? What happened?”
It hit me then; something I’ve known but often forget. People don’t see what I’m going through. They don’t expect me to struggle, and I understand why. I don’t wear my pain on my shoulders, especially not in public. But just because it’s not visible doesn’t mean it’s not there.
As our conversation went on, she opened up about her own struggles. I won’t share her story here, but as we talked, something unexpected happened. I began to feel better… not just because I could help her, but because in helping her, I was also speaking to myself.
It felt like there was a third voice in the room, one that wasn’t hers or mine, guiding us both. By the end of that conversation, we were both lighter, both reminded of the power of simply being heard.
That moment made me realize why I started the forum on this website. There are countless forums out there, yes, but this one is special to me because it’s about more than just talking. It’s about creating a space where people can share anything… big or small, and feel empathy from others who truly listen.
Sometimes, all it takes is one message, one conversation, to remind someone that they’re not alone. You never know whose life you might touch or who might end up helping you in return.
