The Power of Speaking Up

“You can only hold your breath under water for so long,” a close friend once told me. “If you don’t surface for air, you will drown.”

I understood what she meant. She was alluding to the power of talking about our feelings so we can get the support we need.

In a world that often rewards resilience and independence, it can be easy to fall into the trap of silence when we’re struggling with our mental health. We tell ourselves that others have it worse, or that we don’t want to burden the people around us. But the truth is, bottling up our emotions—especially when it comes to difficult feelings or past trauma—can have far-reaching consequences.

Unspoken pain doesn’t disappear. When we don’t acknowledge or express what we’re going through, that energy doesn’t vanish—it finds other ways to surface. For some, that might look like anxiety, depression, or chronic stress. For others, it can manifest physically: fatigue, headaches, or even illness. In my case, a few extra pounds around my waist.

“The question is not why the addiction, but why the pain,” This famous quote by Dr. Gabor Maté encourages us to look deeper—at the underlying emotional wounds, unmet needs, and trauma that often fuel destructive patterns when we don’t address them.

Our founder Sonia Kaurah met world-renowned physician Dr. Gabor Maté in Melbourne, Australia, while promoting his book, When the Body Says No: The Cost of Hidden Stress. In this book, he explores the role of the mind-body link in conditions and diseases such as arthritis, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, IBS, and multiple sclerosis.

Suppressed emotions have a way of settling into the body and mind, and over time, they can quietly erode our sense of well-being and mental health.

That’s why speaking up matters. Naming our emotions—whether it’s grief, anger, fear, shame, or sadness—is the first step toward healing. When we give ourselves permission to feel and express what’s really going on, we not only lighten the emotional load, but we also open the door to connection. Sharing our stories, even in small ways, helps us realize we’re not alone. It allows others to support us, reflect our worth back to us, and sometimes, to say, “Me too.”

Talking about trauma can feel overwhelming, especially if we’ve been taught to keep quiet or to “move on.” 

But healing doesn’t come from pretending we’re fine—it comes from facing the truth of our experiences with compassion and courage. That doesn’t mean we need to relive every detail or share everything with everyone. It means finding safe spaces—whether it’s a therapist, a trusted friend, a journal, or a creative outlet—where our feelings can be witnessed and held.

When we voice our struggles especially to culturally competent therapists and coaches, we take away their power to isolate us. We begin to process what’s happened, rather than letting it control us from the inside out. And in doing so, we give ourselves—and others—permission to do the same.

Your feelings are valid. Your story matters. And speaking it aloud just might be the most radical, healing act you can do for yourself and your mental health.

At Tala Thrive, we support you by matching and connecting you with culturally competent therapists and coaches who understand your culture, language and/or religion, and can help you start speaking about your feelings today.

So be sure to sign up at Tala Thrive to join our community and get the support you need.

Remember, we want you to thrive - mentally, physically, and emotionally - so you can start living the life you truly deserve. 

By: Lola Akinmade