**written by a 17 year old Chabad high school girl.
We all know you’re mentally ill
We all know you’re mentally ill
We all know you’re mentally ill
We all know you’re mentally ill
Can’t stop ringing in my ears
Like I’m in a tunnel
And these words are bouncing off the walls
These six words
Carry so much weight
Each one
A punch in the face
Leaving me
Without a moment
To think or breathe
Each one
A smack on the cheek
It stings
Each one
Burns straight through me
Leaving a deep scar
Each one
Shakes me apart
Makes me tremble with fear
Fear of what?
Being mentally ill?
The all of us knowing?
Isn’t your theory
That if all know
Stigma is broken
Don’t you believe
You’ve done nothing wrong
Mental illness is an illness
Just like any other
Given by G-d
Without your choice or input
This is my theory
I do believe
But
It hurts
It hurts so bad
Mocking me
I’ve done nothing wrong
Why am I embarrassed?
Haven’t I done nothing wrong?
You have not
Yes dear it’s true
I am mentally ill
It’s an illness
That you cannot see
It’s a challenge
That is invisible
If you opened your heart
You’d see
Strength and courage
An illness being conquered
If you took a moment
To see my visible tears
You’d see my invisible shattered heart
If you took a moment
To see my visible smiles
You’d see my invisible
Joys and triumphs
Then “everyone knowing”
Would be a joy and triumph