Have you ever felt that nervous, exhausting pressure to keep a part of yourself hidden? Most of us have.
And yet, there’s something powerful when people share those personal stories and challenges. When they open up about their struggles, it allows us to feel less alone and permits us to acknowledge our own.
Celebrities have been leading the way in unhiding.
Take, for example, Selena Gomez, who bravely shared her challenges with lupus and mental health after years of keeping them hidden. Or Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who has spoken openly about his struggle with depression. Just last week, Olympic swimmer Katie Ledecky courageously shared her journey with POTS, and Colin Farrell has recently opened up about his son’s experience with Angelman Syndrome.
These stories (and many more) show how hiding our struggles can lead to anxiety and how revealing them can bring a sense of relief and connection with others. They remind us that we’re not alone in our challenges and help us see parts of ourselves in others.
Hiding Anxiety: But what about the struggles most of us keep hidden? Hiding anxiety is real, it’s that intense, nervous feeling that comes from trying to conceal a part of ourselves. It’s the constant worry about being found out, the pressure to maintain a façade, and the emotional toll of living in a state of disconnection—from ourselves and from others.
The Emotional Toll: When we hide, the anxiety we feel is not just about the fear of being discovered; it’s about the exhaustion of living a double life. Hiding anxiety can leave us feeling isolated, lonely, and disconnected from the people around us. It’s an exhausting and lonely experience that many endure without realizing there’s a name for it.
The Power of Naming It: Acknowledging hiding anxiety allows us to seek support and understand that this nervous feeling is not something we have to live with forever. It’s a step towards embracing authenticity and finding the freedom to be our best selves.
I encourage you to reflect on your own experiences with hiding anxiety.
You don’t have to be a celebrity to unhide. Seek support, share your story, and know you’re not alone. Together, we can create a community where unhiding is celebrated and the need to hide is left behind.
Exciting News: My new book, Unhide & Seek, is coming out on August 27th! Stay tuned for more details. It’s a guide to understanding hiding and learning to unhide –asking you, 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘺𝘱𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶? I can’t wait to share it with you. (LINK FOR PRE-ORDER)
Thank you for being part of the Unhiding community.
