Do You See Their Silent Struggle?
One day, I took the long road home from the shopping center because I was curious about the statue in our town.
“I’m twenty-five years old. I should be out partying, but some days I’m to scared to go outside.”
Our youngest spoke those words a year ago, just before her 26th birthday, crying bitterly as she did so. We knew she was seeing a psychologist; knew she was diagnosed with agoraphobia.
agoraphobia: extreme or irrational fear of entering open or crowded places, of leaving home or being in places where escape is difficult
She’s more open about her struggle now, but not with everyone. Many of her peers don’t understand it when she cancels yet another outing with them, even when they know about the agoraphobia. They think she’s just looking for excuses.
They don’t know about her inner struggle.
Her silent struggle.
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