# Silent Battles **URL:** \ **Category:** Help & Support\ **Created:** [December 31, 2024, 9:59pm UTC](https://www.recoverycollective.net/t/silent-battles/2444 "2024-12-31T21:59:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![magnet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/744F9E/32.png) [@magnet](https://www.recoverycollective.net/u/magnet)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2024, 9:59pm UTC](https://www.recoverycollective.net/t/silent-battles/2444/1 "2024-12-31T21:59:53Z")
To the outside world, I had it all together - successful career, perfect family, active social life. But inside, I was drowning in anxiety meds. 16 months clean now, and learning that it’s okay to let people see the cracks. Perfection was exhausting anyway. Anyone else relate to this? ---
**Author:** ![KDH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/744F9E/32.png) [@KDH](https://www.recoverycollective.net/u/KDH)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2025, 12:46am UTC](https://www.recoverycollective.net/t/silent-battles/2444/2 "2025-01-11T00:46:37Z")
For sure on both accounts: 1) let folks see the imperfect me and 2) thank goodness perfection isn’t the requirement! It was quite the relief when I actually learned this. Also, the genuine/imperfect you is probably pretty cool- so why not share that?! I find/found that affirming that you did your best is a great measure. How that effort is interpreted/measured by others nice at times, but not seeking approval for the work I’ve done. ---
**Author:** ![geminiBlu](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/www.recoverycollective.net/geminiblu/32/439_2.png) [@geminiBlu](https://www.recoverycollective.net/u/geminiBlu)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2025, 2:25am UTC](https://www.recoverycollective.net/t/silent-battles/2444/3 "2025-02-24T02:25:30Z")
Hi @magnet, I can relate to you. Ever since I was a young child, everything had to be perfect for me. It just continued throughout my life and one day my life just imploded and I had a nervous breakdown. My life is so different now, but each day, it gets a little better. Now I know that it’s ok to have some imperfections. Congrats on the 16 months. That’s awesome. ~ g