Why don’t people believe us until it’s too late?

I’m not sure if I’m in some burnout or depression. All I know is it’s bad and I’ve been trying to tell people around me for months that I was overwhelmed, I couldn’t handle things, I was barely getting by. Still they’ve been pushing me to go back to school, get a new job, etc etc. I don’t think anyone believed me about how difficult everything feels. Until I finally collapsed and had a meltdown in front of my partner (I’ve tried to keep them private because frankly they’re embarrassing). Now he’s telling me to talk to someone, to take a break, get some alone time. As if I haven’t said for months that’s what I need.

I just don’t get it. Why didn’t they believe me? Was it because I was still able to mask just enough? Did they just not care? I said I needed help. I said it was getting bad. I said I questioned if I had the ability to be an independent adult. I told everyone these things because I was desperate for help and compassion. Why didn’t they believe me until I was crying daily, having meltdowns publicly, struggling to eat, not showering for days… I just wish someone heard me and even tried to support or hear me.