Some people have stopped talking to me because I started taking my hijab off sometimes
As-salamu alaykum. (I haven’t fully taken my hijab off - I don’t want to.) 2025 has been really hard for me. Things happened that I never imagined, and now my parents might be getting divorced. It’s been overwhelming, especially because of something my dad did (I’m not going into details). To cope, I’ve been taking my hijab off sometimes. I originally wore it because it made me feel whole and like I had the perfect family and was doing my best as a Muslim. But that image fell apart and I think I lost myself trying to live up to it. Lately I feel suffocated and like I just need space to breathe. I struggled with severe depression, but I won’t go into all of that here. I don’t plan to stop wearing the hijab completely, but with how low I’ve been and how much has happened, I sometimes need a break. Even in cold weather I’d wear lighter layers underneath because my body felt too hot - probably stress. What hurts is that some people have reacted badly. They look at my hair, stare, and then act like they don’t want to be around me anymore. I’ve heard about this happening to others, but it still doesn’t make sense. I’m the same person inside. Nobody really knows what I’m dealing with because I hide it behind a big smile. I’m sharing this because I needed to say it out loud. I don’t want judgment - I just wish for understanding and dua, and for people to remember that hardship can change how someone copes without changing their faith.