Overcoming the invisible battles — depression, isolation, and reclaiming your spirit.
By Tshepo Ralake, Cancer Survivor & Founder of Singsinda
There are battles the world can see — and there are battles it can’t.
When I was fighting cancer, everyone could see the scars, the hospital visits, the weight loss. But the heavier fight was the one happening quietly inside me: the slow creep of depression, the suffocating weight of isolation, and the haunting question — Will I ever feel like myself again?
The Loneliness No One Talks About
Isolation doesn’t always mean being alone in a room. Sometimes you can be surrounded by people and still feel like you’re fading in the background. Friends didn’t know what to say. Family tried their best but couldn’t fully understand. And I began to drift into a place where hope felt like an old friend who had moved away without leaving a forwarding address.
Depression Is Not Just Sadness
Depression didn’t hit me like a storm. It seeped in like water through a crack — slowly, until I was soaked. I didn’t want to answer calls. I didn’t want to face the day. Even things I once loved felt empty.
People say, “Stay positive,” as if it’s a switch you can flip. But the truth is, healing from the inside takes time, and sometimes, all you can do is keep breathing until the fog begins to lift.
The Small Lights That Brought Me Back
Looking back, I didn’t pull myself out alone. Tiny acts of kindness became my rescue rope:
A neighbour bringing a warm meal.
A nurse holding my hand before a painful treatment.
A friend sending a simple “thinking of you” message.
A whispered prayer I didn’t even hear at the time.
These small moments reminded me that I still mattered — that my story wasn’t over.
Reclaiming Your Spirit
Reclaiming hope isn’t about pretending life is perfect. It’s about learning to live again, piece by piece, and letting light in, even through the cracks. I began to write. I began to share my story. And slowly, I realised: the same way darkness had crept in, light could find its way back, too.
If Hope Feels Far Away Today…
I want you to know something — you are not broken beyond repair. You are not invisible. And even if hope feels like a stranger right now, it can come home again.
You are worth waiting for. You are worth fighting for. And one day, you will look back and see that the battles you fought in silence made you stronger than you ever imagined.
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This story is part of the “Live Lessons from a Cancer Warrior” series. Read more chapters here.
Need support or want to partner with the Singsinda Foundation? Contact Tshepo at 072 236 4482 or tsheporalake@yahoo.com
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