Listen

Today, I opened up to a medical professional about having urges to self-harm and suicidal thoughts and her response was 'Oh, but you look lovely today.'
Why are we STILL judging with our eyes and not listening with our ears?
I felt like asking if I'd still look lovely if I'm dead, but I didn't I just signed and resigned myself to further lack of care from those who are supposed to protect and help me.
If someone tells you they are struggling, believe them. Don't find things to counter their claims. Who cares if they put makeup on? Maybe, like me, they didn't want the entire world to know they are falling apart. Maybe they needed that mask to get through the day. Maybe it was their war paint.
If she had looked closer she would have seen my chipped nails and my unwashed hair but no, she didn't see past the well-put-together outfit I chose. 
It's so easy to fool people into seeing that you are okay. It's our jobs to speak up; and more importantly to listen.