"I was raped" - trauma, masks and mental illness

Wearing masks is a protective hiding technique used by a lot of people including me. Masks helped me survive my childhood and became a default protective barrier between me and difficult emotions/situations. I have utilized a customized support network (family, friends, support groups and professional support) to SAFELY remove masks and release traumas my body has been caring for a long time. Masks also allowed for me to have professional success during the times I was sickest with mental illness. However, this did have serious side effects, including more emotional distress, delayed recovery, physical health complications among other things. #No2MHStigma