Breaking the Silence: Reclaiming Our Stories Around Mental Health.
Mental health is something we all carry - quietly, constantly, and often invisibly. It shapes how we think, how we sleep, how we relate to others, and how much hope we can hold onto. And yet, despite how universal it is, speaking openly about our mental health still feels risky for many of us.
Why is it still so difficult to say, “I’m not okay,” without fearing that we’ll be judged or misunderstood?
A lot of us grew up in environments where mental health was either brushed aside or quietly ignored. Whether through silence, shame, or subtle messaging, the result was the same: we learned to keep things hidden. We learned that struggling meant failing in some way.
But here’s the truth I’ve come to believe, both personally and professionally:
Struggling doesn’t make you weak. It makes you human.
In my practice as a person-centred and integrative psychotherapist based in Sligo, I meet individuals and couples who come with a wide range of life experiences—many from the LGBTQIA+ community - each carrying their own version of that learned silence. Some are navigating anxiety, burnout, or grief. Others are exploring their gender identity, coming out for the first time, or moving through the deeply personal and often emotional process of transitioning.
And too often, these experiences are compounded by external stigma—by being misgendered, misunderstood, or made to feel like you don’t belong.
If this is your experience, please know this:
Your identity is valid. Your story matters. And your mental health deserves the same care and compassion as anyone else’s.
What if we began to see our mental health as part of being whole, instead of something separate or shameful? What if we let go of the idea that we need to be “fixed,” and instead started asking: What do I need to feel supported? Heard? Safe?
The stigma around mental health doesn’t always look like cruelty. Sometimes it’s the uncomfortable silence when someone tries to open up. Sometimes it’s a quick change of subject, or a well-meant “But you seem fine.” Even these small moments can make us feel isolated.
The opposite of stigma isn’t having all the right answers.
It’s being willing to stay present.
It’s being curious instead of critical.
It’s saying, “I’m here, and I hear you.”
One of the most powerful things we can do individually and as a community is to create space for honest, messy, and meaningful conversations. Conversations where we can talk about mental health, gender identity, relationships, shame, resilience, hope… all the complicated things that make us human.
In my work, I aim to create that kind of space. A place where you don’t have to justify who you are or what you feel. A place where it's okay not to be okay and where your voice is not just heard but respected.
Whether you’re exploring who you are, carrying something heavy, or simply need a place to breathe and be, support is available.
You don’t have to carry it all on your own.
You don’t have to be “fixed.”
You just have to be met with kindness.
💬 If something in this resonated with you, give yourself permission to explore it further, gently, and in your own time. You’re not alone.
With heart,
Arina
