"But how could it be?"
"He looks so happy. "
"She looked like she had it all..."
I am heartbroken by the loss of two wildly successful, admired, and interesting people. We have this notion that wealth status and success should bring us happiness. But in the last week we had two tragic examples, in Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain's suicides, that wealth and status aren't enough.
Our culture hums on false idea that success is a vaccine for mental illness. It is heightened by social media where we compare the curated highlight reels of others outsides to our day to day insides. It’s easy to conclude that if I went on this trip, if I had these clothes, if I had these friends, if I looked that way, if I..., I would be happy.
Clearly this is not the case. So, when we get those things and realize that it's not the case we either feel hopeless. "What do I have to do to be happy?" Or we feel shame. "I have all these things I should be happy. What's wrong with me." And that hopelessness and shame can keep us silent and stuck. It's okay to not be okay. It's okay to ask for help. There are people who want to help. You are worth it.
Colorado Crisis Services
1-844-493-8255
* You can also text "talk" to 38255
National Suicide Hotline
1-800-273-8255