Anne Hallward talks about shame being in the center of everyone’s problems. Being the reason why people don’t share their stories. Being the reason they are embarrassed and sad. When Anne was talking about how shame makes you feel like your in a closet, that really resonated with me. I can relate to that, I have been there. When you’re in the closet “and you’re so alone in the dark” it’s scary. You feel that the whole world is against you and that no one will ever understand you or be on your side. And that is the point of Anne’s TED talk and her radio show. It is to open this new option for people. For the people that hide and that are embarrassed, to talk to just listen. Anne herself said, referring to the closet, “So you can feel so afraid, and you look out that crack of light and you see everyone else out there and they seem so normal and happy” This is so accurate. When you have a mental illness you don’t feel normal, your not happy all the time so seeing someone that’s happy all the time, causes jealousy. Anne Hallward opened my eyes with her talk. I had never thought of shame being at the center of peoples issues.
