I'm Fine

21/04/2026

This page started from heartbreak 💔

I lost someone close to me to suicide… and that loss changed something in me forever.

It made me realise how much people can be struggling behind a smile, behind an “I’m fine”…

And that’s exactly why this page was created.

Not because I have all the answers…
but because I’ve lived it.

I’ve lived through mental health battles that felt never-ending.
I’ve lived through domestic abuse that left scars you can’t always see.
And I’ve lived with the long-term effects that don’t just disappear when it’s “over.”

For a long time, I stayed quiet.
I carried it, I hid it, I told the world I was okay…

But I wasn’t.

And I know I’m not the only one.

So now I speak.
Not just for me… but for anyone who feels like they can’t.

If you’ve ever felt trapped, broken, lost, or alone—
this page is for you.

If you’ve ever smiled while hurting inside—
this page is for you.

If you’ve ever said “I’m fine” when you’re anything but—
this page is for you.

Mental health is real.
Domestic abuse is real.
And the impact it leaves behind is real.

But so is healing.
So is speaking out.
And so is finding strength, even on the days you feel weakest.

If my story can help even one person feel less alone…
then sharing it will always be worth it.

You are not alone 🤍
And you never have to pretend here.

21/04/2026

Today I’m going to be honest… even though I hate admitting it 😔

I’m feeling down and emotional.

And as someone who’s always telling others to open up, I ask myself…
is it okay to say I’m not okay?

The truth is… I still struggle to say it out loud.

But today, I did. I said it to one of my closest friends.
She listened without judgement. No pressure, no expectations… just understanding.

She even accepts that sometimes it can take me days to reply,
and never once makes me feel bad for it.

And yet… years later, I still find it hard to open up.
I still have days where getting out of bed feels like a battle.

What frustrates me the most… is myself.
Why am I so hard on me?

Because the truth is—
if anyone else came to me feeling like this, I would never judge them. Not once.

So why do I judge myself so harshly?

That inner voice kicks in…
“Donna, this isn’t good. You need to stop this. You can’t go back there.”

And then the question creeps in…
Will I ever truly feel better?

But what does “better” even mean?

My mind feels like a constant back-and-forth,
yet I know how far I’ve come from where I once was.

Maybe this feeling…
the no makeup, staying in, not touching the garden I love…
maybe it’s not failure.

Maybe it’s what my mum calls “warning signs.” 🚨

A reminder to slow down.
To check in with myself.

Mental health isn’t a quick fix.
There’s no magic wand—no matter how much we wish there was.

But maybe… just maybe…
being able to say “I’m not okay today”
is part of healing too. 💛

15/04/2026

Everyone has a story… so don’t judge.
Domestic abuse survivor 💔
I used to say,
“If anyone ever hit me, I’d leave.”
Until it happened to me.
And I didn’t leave… not straight away.
Why?
Because abuse isn’t always understood until you’re in it.
It’s not just physical.
It’s fear.
It’s control.
It’s feeling trapped.
I blamed myself.
I made excuses.
I believed it would stop.
I lost who I was.
I was told
no one would ever want me because I had two children.
And I was threatened that
if I left with my children, he would find me.
Abuse makes you feel powerless.
Weak.
Alone.
But the truth is—
it often takes multiple attempts to leave.
So instead of judging,
try understanding.
Because behind closed doors,
you don’t see the full story.
And if this is you reading this…
You are not alone.
You are stronger than you feel.
And there is a way out 🤍
Support:
National Domestic Abuse Helpline (run by Refuge)
📞 0808 2000 247 (24/7, free)

13/04/2026

The fear no one talks about…

One of the biggest reasons women don’t speak out about domestic abuse…
is the fear of losing their children.

As soon as you report abuse, there’s a possibility your children could be placed on a “child at risk” plan.

And yes — children should always be protected first.
Every single time.

But we also need to ask the difficult question…

👉 Does this support mothers in that moment — or does it sometimes make them more afraid to speak up?

Because for many women, it feels like this:

Stay quiet and protect your children from the system…
Or speak up and risk losing them.

That fear is real.

In places like Telford and across Shropshire, there are mothers who have:
• Lost their children after reporting abuse
• Had their mental health decline
• Turned to coping mechanisms like addiction
• Completely lost their sense of self

And what started as one trauma — domestic abuse —
turns into something that can feel even more painful:

Being labelled an “unfit mother.”

So now they are fighting two battles:
💔 Surviving abuse
💔 And proving they deserve to be a mum

Domestic abuse doesn’t just leave bruises.

It can cause:
• Anxiety, depression, and PTSD
• Loss of confidence and identity
• Financial dependence and isolation
• Fear of speaking out
• Long-term impact on both mother and children

We need more awareness.
We need more understanding.
And most importantly — we need more support for mothers.

Because protecting children should never mean breaking their mothers.

There are organisations trying to help:

But more needs to be done — locally and across the country.

Because right now, too many women feel like the system meant to help them…
is another thing they’re scared of.

And that’s something we need to change.

To every mother going through this:

You are not alone.
You are not a bad mum.
You are surviving something incredibly hard.

And you still deserve support, understanding, and the chance to heal 🤍

13/04/2026

Why is reaching out so hard?

Why does telling the truth sometimes make you want to hide even more?

When you’re in a domestic abuse relationship, it’s not that you don’t want to tell someone…
It’s that something inside you is screaming “don’t — it will get worse.”

And sadly, that fear doesn’t come from nowhere.

Abuse is built on control, fear, and silence.
You’re made to feel like no one will believe you.
Like speaking up will make things escalate.
Like you’ll lose everything.

So you stay quiet… not because you’re weak — but because you’re trying to survive.

💔 On average, it takes a survivor around 7 times to leave an abusive relationship for good.
Not because they don’t want to leave… but because leaving is the most dangerous time.

If this is you — please hear this:

You are not stupid.
You are not weak.
You are not alone.

There are people who understand. There are people who will listen. There are people who will stand beside you when you’re ready.

If you’re in Shropshire, support is here:

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• (24/7 helpline: 0808 2000 247)
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You don’t have to do this alone.
Even if today all you do is read this and breathe — that still counts.

When you’re ready, we will be here. Always 🤍

Donna J Robinson
I'm Fine

12/04/2026

So most of you know me, or at least a little about me… I’m Donna, a mum to two teenagers 🤍

Lately I’ve been sharing more of my story — the parts people don’t usually see.

Writing has become my outlet when things feel overwhelming. At first it was just for me… but now I’m finding the courage to share it.

If I’m honest, I’m still scared to say things out loud. My mental health has taken its toll, and some days it feels a lot. My mind never really switches off.

But today I realised something…

This is for me. Not advice. Not for anyone else. Just me trying to make peace with my past.

After my operation, being told my insides looked like I’d been in a bad car crash really hit me… that was the reality of what I went through — things I stayed silent about.

I hid it. For a long time.

But I can’t change what happened…
I can choose not to carry it in silence anymore.

Donna J Robinson ♥️

10/04/2026

I’m sharing this in case it helps someone else feel a little less alone…

I went to the doctors today just to ask what I thought were normal questions — how long healing should take, if what I’m feeling is normal, just a bit of reassurance really.

But I left feeling like I wasn’t actually heard.

My operation was serious… not something small. My body has been through a lot, and I’m still recovering. So to finally speak up, ask questions, and then feel like it was all just shut down… that was hard.

The doctor wasn’t rude or unkind… it was just that quiet feeling of being brushed off. Like everything I said was being put down to anxiety instead of actually being listened to.

And it made me realise how many people probably feel this way.

When you’ve had a history of anxiety, depression or OCD, it can sometimes feel like you’re not taken seriously when something is genuinely wrong. Like everything gets seen through that one lens.

You start questioning yourself…
“Is it just me?”
“Am I overthinking this?”

When really, all you wanted was to be listened to… especially after something serious.

So if you’ve ever left an appointment feeling unheard, this is your reminder:

You’re allowed to ask questions.
You’re allowed to want answers.
And you deserve to feel taken seriously — every single time.

Your past doesn’t cancel out your present. Your voice matters 🤍

07/04/2026

some days feel like they are never going to pass, like you are stuck in the same feeling and nothing is really changing, you keep showing up, doing what you need to do, carrying it quietly, and from the outside it probably looks like you are fine, but inside it still feels heavy in a way you cannot explain.

07/04/2026

It’s Easter holidays… the world looks bright, families together, kids off school, everything looks “normal” on the outside.

And then there’s the inside.

The part people don’t see.

The exhaustion that doesn’t go away even after rest.
The emotions that hit out of nowhere.
The moments where you smile, but feel like you could cry at the same time.

“I’m fine” is what we say… because it’s easier.
Because explaining feels too much.
Because we don’t want to bring the mood down when everyone else seems okay.

But the truth is — healing isn’t just physical.
It’s emotional. It’s mental. It’s quiet. It’s messy.

Some days you’re strong.
Some days you’re just getting through.

And both are okay.

So if you’re feeling it too this Easter —
you’re not alone, even if it feels like it.

“I’m fine”… but I’m also human 💛

30/03/2026

30/03/2026

This page started with words I’ll never forget.

The last thing he said to me was
“I’m fine.”

But sometimes… “I’m fine” isn’t fine.

I created this space in memory of Darren Marshall 💛

For anyone who’s ever smiled on the outside
while hurting on the inside…

You’re not alone here 🤍

17/11/2025

🌿 A Little Update From Me 🌿

I’ve been quieter on here recently, and I wanted to be honest about why.

Life has taken a really heavy turn. I’ve been coping with a bereavement, and my mom has recently been diagnosed with a brain tumour. Some days I feel strong, but many days I’m just trying to hold myself together. And like so many of us do… when people ask if I’m okay, I find myself saying “I’m fine” — even when I’m anything but.

That’s why this page exists.
Because behind those two words, so many of us are carrying battles no one can see.

If you’re struggling too, please know you’re not alone. It’s okay to step back, to rest, to breathe. It’s okay to not be okay. And it’s more than okay to reach out.

Thank you for your patience, your kindness, and for being part of a space where honesty and healing matter. I’ll be posting again when I can, and until then, please look after yourselves — truly.

💛 You don’t have to pretend to be “fine.”