It's Not Safe to Be Me: Preface
A Note on Safety and Identity
Here’s the entire series (will add links as they publish):
Part 5: Resurgence (coming soon)
Before you indulge in this series, I want to acknowledge something important.
The phrase “It’s not safe to be me” is a deeply personal statement that became an anthem for my life in 2021. It reflects a period when I was unable to fully embody who I am—a time when overwhelming circumstances made it impossible, even dangerous, to be the person I knew myself to be.
I’m acutely aware that the idea of safety and identity carries a much broader and often more literal meaning for many people.
In a world where systemic discrimination, violence, and oppression are daily realities for too many, the phrase “It’s not safe to be me” can evoke experiences far beyond what I've lived through. I respect and honor those experiences, and I recognize that my story exists within a different context.
When I say “It’s not safe to be me,” I’m speaking to a specific kind of mental and emotional safety—a psychological state where accessing and expressing my true self triggered PTSD symptoms. It’s about a breakdown that left me feeling erased, not by society, but by the sheer weight of life circumstances.
To be clear: this is my personal journey, not a universal truth. My experience doesn’t diminish or compare to the very real and often life-threatening struggles that others face daily simply for being who they are. I hope that by sharing my story, I can contribute to a broader conversation about what it means to feel unsafe in one’s own mind and body, and the different ways we all navigate our paths to reclaiming ourselves.
Thank you for reading, and for allowing me to share this part of my life with you. I hope that through this series, we can find common ground in our shared humanity, even as we honor the distinct challenges we each face.
Here’s the entire series (will add links as they publish):
Part 5: Resurgence (coming soon)
With much respect and gratitude,
- Marie