April 24, 2025
By Alex Carter

I’ve never been good at sharing secrets, especially ones like this. But here I am, trying to get it off my chest.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been hiding behind someone else’s picture online. There was always this feeling of escape when I created a new persona—pretending to be someone I wasn’t. People online showed me affection, attention, and validation in a way that no one ever did in real life. I became addicted to that feeling, to the point where it became more real than anything happening around me.

It wasn’t just the games I played—it was the way I could build fake relationships, ones based on a version of me that didn’t exist. I had convinced myself that it was enough, that this online world was my refuge. In reality, it was ruining me. I spent hours online, neglecting my real life. School, friends, and family were all pushed aside as I chased the next hit of online attention. I was so disconnected from everything that truly mattered. I skipped school to play games. I missed out on meaningful moments with loved ones. And the worst part? I didn’t even realize how much I was losing.

But this year… something changed. I promised myself that I would stop. I don’t know why I thought it would be so easy, but I knew I had to try. I knew I had to take back control of my life. It wasn’t easy, and I still struggle with the urge to go back to that world, but I’m trying.

This is me, facing the truth about myself. It feels strange, but it’s a step I needed to take. I don’t want to keep living in the shadows anymore, pretending to be someone else. I just want to find my way back to real connections, the ones that matter, the ones that aren’t built on lies.