The Hidden Strength of Functioning with Anxiety or Depression

Ellaeenah JadeFire

This blog is dedicated to a strong woman whom I am so proud of, whom I love so dearly.

There are days when just getting out of bed feels like a small miracle. When answering a text, or showing up for work feels like climbing a mountain. And still you do it.

You show up.

You smile, you hold conversations, when all you want is silence. You get dressed, go out, send the emails, shine at the meetings, all while carrying an invisible weight that no one can see. Maybe not even us who are closest to you.

That is strength. That is courage. That is resilience.

You inspire me with your determination to not wallow in victimhood, to rise and stride towards the victories that you seek. I respect you so much for that.

I am writing this blog for all to read because we don’t talk enough about this kind of strength: the strength it takes to function while your mind feels foggy, and your heart feels tired. We glorify the loud victories, the hustle, the social media brouhaha. But what about the days when survival is the win? When the real miracle is just not giving up?

Anxiety and depression don’t always look like someone falling apart. More often, they look like someone holding it together, having a winning attitude, while battling thoughts and feelings that overwhelm. And because you’re managing, because you look “fine,” the world doesn’t see the daily grit it takes just to be here.

Overwhelm. Numbness. The pressure to be 'okay'. So many of us carry invisible heaviness, and quietly wonder: What’s wrong with me? But what if nothing is 'wrong with you, that the real issue is that you're 'overloaded'? With expectations, old wounds, unvoiced inner battles, and the constant push to "keep it together." Your anxiety isn’t a disorder; it’s a response to life that’s sometimes can seem too much. And healing starts when we stop blaming ourselves, and start listening to what the pain is trying to say.

So let’s be clear:

You are not broken. You are not weak. You are not failing at life.

If you need rest, you're not lazy. If you feel overwhelmed, you're not inadequate. If you cry in the shower or cancel plans or zone out for hours, you're not alone. These are signs that your system is strong and knows how to survive, not signs that you're failing.

And yes, healing matters. Therapy, breath work, journaling, colouring, whatever works for you - these things are means of deep support and self-care. But even before the healing, there needs to be this: giving yourself the permission to feel what you're feeling, and the deep knowing that you're not alone in it.

So if today is a day where you made it out of bed, answered one email, or just showed up for yourself, I hope you know that's enough. That you’re enough. That you are precious to all the many family members and friends who love you.

You don’t have to perform your way into worthiness. You already are.