When we look at Joe Blogs up the road who has the perfect family with the perfect life, nobody knows what is going on in his personal life. Too often people may look at his palace and think he has the perfect life. The issue is, nobody has walked in his shoes, nobody has faced the trauma he has and nobody knows what goes on behind closed doors. Everybody has heard of the expression that the grass is always greener on the other side but in practice, many don’t practice this. 

When somebody speaks up about difficulties they’re experiencing, whether it is surrounding their mental health, family, work or finances to just name a few examples, it’s sadly all too common for their difficulties to be dismissed. Their struggles may be compared to those living in war zones, those who’ve also gone through a difficult patch in their life or those who are going through a physical illness; to just name 3 examples out of hundreds. The issue is, no two people’s experiences can be compared. 

Too often we as a society, some want to ‘one up’ on others by making it out that they’re better or richer or, in this instance, that the battles they’ve fought were harder than somebody else’s. If I was to say Jane experienced trauma A and John experienced trauma B- who’s experiences was more traumatic? 

As a society, many may try and weigh up the two traumas to compare them. This, in turn, can lead to people dismissing somebody’s diagnosed PTSD. 

The issue is, like anything in life, how an event impacts somebody’s mental health will vary person to person and we both cannot and should not try to compare two different people’s situations to weigh up who’s was “more traumatic”.

Reflecting on my own life, situations I’ve been through that were simply minor inconveniences for me were perceived as traumatic by others when I’ve spoken about them. 

Other situations in my life, however, which caused a detriment to my mental health, have been dismissed as ‘life’ or ‘that’s adolescence for you’. 

When speaking to somebody about any issues they may be experiencing, it is a case of not trying to compare them to yourself or others and to not judge. Emphasising, often explained as putting one foot in their world, helps anyone you are speaking to feel like they are being listened to and not being judged. 

Follow my journey

X: @B2BMarchester

Instagram: @B2BMarchester

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/B2BMarchester

Website: http://www.Borough2BoroMarchester.com

Share my posts on your channels to help raise awareness

Donate today

Stripe (no minimum): https://donate.stripe.com/6oE17595Id16fgA5kK

Go Fund Me (minimum £5): http://gofundme.com/borough-2-boro-marchester