Thread by @Alexa_Kantor

This is the face of #depression.
Today I'm going public in the hope that will help me to fight back.
No one can guess from that picture that I cried for hours that day and had dark thoughts.
It never stops.
#mentalhealth matters, even if not visible.
#MentalHealthAwareness 1/

No one can guess that I had to have medical leave and I am still followed by psychotherapists.
It's invisible, and I am good at hiding it until it becomes too hard. But don't be fooled by fake smiles.
Dig deeper. Listen. Be prepared to listen uncomfortable emotional stuff. 2/

It's been a year now, I begged for help and I realised now that it's hopeless and easier to discard victims than deal with #workplace #bullying. 3/

I will hopefully find the tools to get myself out of this dark place because I am strong.
I have great friends and new amazing colleagues.
But it will take time and if you know someone who is in this situation, you have to be patient. 4/

Teachers at school should stop telling kids that if they are good, they will do good.
Reality is different.
The #education system should teach us how hard and unfair the work place and life can be. Especially for #womeninSTEM. 5/

Kids should know that wanting to make a change and work at their best might cause them trouble as not everyone has this motive.
And they will be targeted by those who benefit from the dysfunctional system.
Knowing the "influencial" persons matters more than being right. 6/

Life is not fair and we should not have to learn that on our own thinking that maybe one day the wheel will turn in our favour. It won't.
This should be taught. I am not the first and won't be the last.
Be honest with your children. 7/

If you know and encourage a girl who wants to be a #WomenInSTEM, acknowledge that you are sending her in a cage of sharks. Your nice words won't make their teeth less sharp.
Be there for her. She will face shit as 60% of us quit engineering after 35 years old (ish) 8/

Thank you for reading. 9/