Woman who suffers from anxiety shares powerful selfie showing her 'normal' side

A woman who suffers from anxiety and depression decided to share her 'normal' side that people usually don't see on Facebook, in a very honest post.

Amber Smith, from Rugby, shared a post on Facebook with two selfies - one of her 'dressed up' and with her make up done, and one of her shortly after suffering a panic attack because of her anxiety.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10209306697722036&set=a.1829413172668.107559.1160492240&type=3&theater

'God knows why I'm doing this, but people need some home truths..', Amber wrote on the post, that has been shared nearly 5,000 times since 3 April.

After describing both pictures, Amber goes on to talk about the taboos that still exist around mental health issues, making the case for more education on subject and less judgement.

'I'm so sick of the fact that it's 2016 and there is still so much stigma around mental health. It disgusts me that so many people are so uneducated and judgemental over the topic. They say that 1 in 3 people will suffer with a mental illness at some point in their life. 1 in 3! Do you know how many people that equates to worldwide?!', Amber wrote.

She also gave details of her personal experience dealing anxiety and depression, revealing a few of the uneducated comments she's received over the years, which include advice to 'just be happier'.

'And yet I've been battling with anxiety and depression for years and years and there's still people that make comments like 'you'll get over it', 'you don't need tablets, just be happier', 'you're too young to suffer with that'.

'F*CK YOU. F*ck all of you small minded people that think that because I physically look 'fine' that I'm not battling a monster inside my head every single day.'

Amber also mentioned a comment she's recently heard, that proves her point of lack of awareness about mental health issues. 'Someone actually said this to me one day 'aren't you too young to be suffering with anxiety and depression? What do you actually have to be depressed about at your age?' Wow, just wow', she wrote.

Amber finishes her post on a positive note, urging people to be nice to each other and stop judging people.

'This is why I can't stress enough that it costs nothing to be nice to others. Don't bully others, don't put others down and the hardest one of them all (as we have all done it at some point) don't judge another person. We're all human regardless of age, race, religion, wealth, job. So build one another up instead of breaking each other down.'

Amber's honesty has rung true with many people who shared and commented on her post to praise how brave she is to share this on social media. Most comments also agreed with her on the lack of awareness on mental health.

Chelsea Colledge commented to say: 'I think there is just not enough people know about it. I think that's why people make stupid comments like "get over it" we are all naive about it. It's a shame though cause so many people now suffer with it! But well said Amber.. So very brave! xxx'

Lauren O'Keefe also commented: 'I hate to think that people are suffering and feeling alone. Very brave of you to post this Amber Smith it just goes to show that people have no idea what others are going through just because they 'look fine' it doesn't mean that they are.'