@lovekillslife: i find myself constantly saying “i don’t know” when asked how i’m feeling. not because i lack awareness, but because putting my pain into words feels impossible. i wait so long to speak about my feelings that when someone finally asks “what’s been going on with you?” all i can muster up is “i don’t know” solely from everything that’s been built up. it becomes a shield, not from confusion because i know something is wrong but i don’t know where it started or how to explain it without sounding dramatic. it’s a shield against the risk of saying the wrong thing, of being judged, or of opening a door to pain that feels too vast to manage. silence becomes safer than exposure. it’s my mind's attempt to protect my heart, even if that protection comes at the cost of connection with someone. it’s not that i don’t want to talk or i’m ignoring your question it’s simply i don’t know how to answer it.