I finally told my Mom today that I was diagnosed with Depression, anxiety and stress disorder. I was very hesitant to do so for all of these months that I have not been feeling well. I have seen her look sad and say to me and siblings that I don’t look for her anymore or that I don’t answer her phone calls or texts some days. It was difficult to say those things to her because I was afraid I wouldn’t be understood, and I was afraid of the reaction. My parents are a huge influence in my life in many ways and all I have ever wanted so bad is to make them feel proud of me. I am afraid of the response also because in our culture it isn’t so easily accepted to have mental disorders. There is a barrier for my culture because there seems to be a lack in understanding or in being sensitive on mental health issues. I couldn’t do it face to face either because I would just break and I am not ready for that yet with her or my dad. However I feel a huge relief that I was able to text it and that her replies were not mean or insensitive. She may want more information because it was very brief, but at least I explained to her that I was not avoiding her because I hate her or because I don’t love her, it is just that some days I have difficulty communicating, some days I don’t want to get out of bed, some days I isolate myself and I am working on this.