After an unsuccessful weekend, I am feeling somewhat despondent this morning. With no emotional support growing up, I find it hard to be the adult sometimes.

Time has brought me to this place, but it's all it has done. Emotionally, I don’t always feel the adult. I have become my own guide and mentor and although that helps me cope, it’s also been very hard. It comes on the back of some very tough weeks. I usually pride myself on my coping skills and resilience, not today.

I have missed out on my childhood. I’ve been left with a gaping hole in its wake. Every now and again I subconsciously go back to that place that I was at my most comfortable. I have to grow up and face my realities.

I’m not one to give up or mope around and I will always do my best. I believe as adults we’re expected to get on with things, it doesn’t matter whether we’re up to the job or not. Today I'm not up to the job.

Ilana Estelle is a mental health and wellbeing advocate who combines educational insight with her personal experience of living with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities. She holds diplomas in Counselling, Diet and Nutrition, Nutritional Therapy, Psychotherapy and Counselling, and Stress Management. Through her writing, Ilana supports others in navigating their emotional, mental, and physical health challenges. In addition to writing for The CP Diary, her work has appeared in healthy lifestyle magazines. Ilana is also the author of three books: Cerebral Palsy: A Story – Finding the Calm After the Storm, Spirituality, Healing and Me, and Survival: The Covid Years – Time for Change.

Most people who read this blog

went on to read these blogs next
Date 26 July 2026
Author Ilana Estelle

Living with Difference

Seen, Misjudged, Rarely Understood For most of my life, I lived in the dark. Not because I didn't know I was different, but because I didn't yet have the understanding to explain why life always felt harder than it seemed to be ...
Read more
Date 24 July 2026
Author Ilana Estelle

The Hidden Effects of Loss

Some consequences aren't immediate, they're cumulative It's five months into four years through twin loss, and I've split another tooth. On its own, it's an ordinary event. But it's an event that made me stop and look back ...
Read more
Date 19 July 2026
Author Ilana Estelle

What Writing Taught Me About Self-Understanding

How writing became more than a creative outlet When I started writing, I had no idea where it would lead. I simply needed somewhere to put my thoughts – a place to make sense of experiences I struggled to understand ...
Read more
1 2 3 681

8 comments on “A little despondent”

  1. Sorry to hear that you're not feeling particularly well about how things are going in your life.

    I know how hard it can be when certain situations in your life bring up a lot of old feelings. Hopefully things will calm down for you very soon and you'll be back to your old self.

  2. You're not one to dwell on things even when feeling like this. I know you can move forward and I am confident that you will do just that.

  3. I agree with you about kids these days.

    Generally speaking, I don't think many have the respect they should and don't appreciate what their parents do for them.

    I'm really hoping things look up for you soon. Keep on hanging in there!! xxx

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe to receive regular updates

Enter your details below to be the first to receive updates on new articles on my blog.