Silent Tears

Late at night when the moon is full
And I’m sitting up all alone,
Tears fall silently down my cheeks
Although I keep this fact unknown.
Sometimes my thoughts are so heavy
I fear nobody could understand.
I grapple with them on my own
Afraid to ask someone for a hand.
I let the painful tears flow freely
Shedding sorrow as they fall.
And when the morning sun appears
Nobody knows a thing at all.

(c) 2017 Shell Cichy

How many of us can identify with these words?  How many people suffer from silent sorrow so heavy they are afraid to turn to someone else for a helping hand or even a shoulder to cry on?

There are people in my life who suffer from silent tears.  When the sun is shining they wear a smile.  However, when the world sleeps the tears fall.  Not wanting to burden friends and family they struggle on alone putting on a brave face.

These are the souls who reach a point of such despair they feel there is no way out but the end.  It is these people who we read about in the paper and ask ourselves, “what happened?”  These happy people who seemed to have a perfect life, who we all envied for living a dream, were hiding the truth from the world.

These days depression and despair run rampant.  More and more people succumb to it and have no idea how to help themselves and pull out of it.  Sometimes there are physical reasons.  Medications have depressive side effects.  Hormonal disorders can really mess around with emotions.  Winter blues or lack of sunshine can cause depressive symptoms.

There are situational reasons.  People may not be able to find their way out of a box they have crawled into in life.  They feel stuck with no way out.  Life has grown unbearable.

But there is hope and help.  If we are in this position we have to be willing to turn to friends and loved ones and say, “Hey… I need a friend.”  Call a counseling center or religious organization.  These people are in these occupations because they want to help.  They are trained not to judge but to help.

1-800-273-8255 is the suicide hotline number.  If things are that desperate, call them.  Don’t be the one crying silent tears.  Cry for help instead.