They said, “It’s just on your mind,” like that meant it wasn’t real. As if thoughts don’t have power, as if the things that haunt your mind can’t hurt you. But it’s more than that—it’s in your chest when you wake up, in your stomach when you try to eat, in your throat when you try to speak. It follows you into crowded rooms and quiet moments, turning simple tasks into silent battles. You don’t get to leave it behind when the day ends; you carry it with you like a shadow that doesn’t disappear in the dark. It’s not just a thought. It’s a presence. What they don’t see is how it shapes your world. It dulls the colors, drains the joy, makes everything feel just a little too heavy. And when they dismiss it, they dismiss you—your experience, your struggle, your truth. It’s not about needing attention or overthinking. It’s about living with something you didn’t ask for, something you can’t explain in a way that makes people care. So no, it’s not just on your mind. It’s “everywhere” And pretending otherwise doesn’t make it go away—it just makes you feel even more alone with it.