Have you ever had one of those days when you just can’t seem to find your happiness or motivation or purpose? Do you ever just want to lie around, do nothing, and hide from the world? If you’ve experienced any of these things, I’m right there with you. Everyone has bad days, and when you deal with mental health issues like anxiety and depression, bad mental health days can become a frequent occurrence and happen when you least expect it.
I’ve had my fair share of these days, and I know that when they happen, it can feel impossible to find a way out. I still struggle with getting myself through my bad mental health days, but I’ve realized that the first step in attempting to pull myself out of these moods is to change my mindset. Before I can even think about physically doing anything to try to make myself feel better, I need to pay attention to and nurture myself mentally and emotionally. This starts with listening to my thoughts and emotions so I can understand them and then try to improve them. I’ve found that talking myself through it and reminding myself of a few key things are powerful ways to change my mindset and make these bad mental health days a little more manageable.
To get through a bad mental health day, one of the most effective things to do is remind yourself that you can get through it. Your mind is powerful, but so are your words, so when these bad mental health days pop up, try to be more intentional with the words you say to yourself. The next time you’re having a bad mental health day, take control of your mindset and remind yourself of these ten things.
1.It’s okay to feel this way.
One of the worst things you can do on a bad mental health day is tell yourself you shouldn’t be feeling the way you do. You’re human, so it’s in your nature to experience every emotion on the spectrum. Just because you’re feeling anxious or sad or stressed or afraid doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you. When you find yourself in a certain kind of mood, remind yourself it’s okay to feel whatever emotions you’re feeling.
2. You’re allowed to feel these feelings.
Once you’ve told yourself it’s okay to feel the way you do, it’ll be easier to convince yourself that you are allowed to feel these feelings. The emotions that come up on bad mental health days can almost feel like they’re against the rules somehow because they’re so opposite from the emotions that we’re told are “good” emotions. Happiness, motivation, purpose, fearlessness, and determination can all disappear on bad mental health days and be replaced with the emotions that are deemed “bad” emotions, like sadness, frustration, irritability, and fear. No matter what your emotions are, they are always valid. Give yourself permission to feel all of your feelings and resist the urge to push them away or suppress them just because of the connotation they may have.
3. You are strong enough to get through this.
Having a bad mental health day does not make you weak. Remind yourself of your strength and how capable you are to get through whatever you’re going through. Convince yourself that you are strong enough to make it through the day and maybe even feel better at the end of it.
4. You’re not alone.
Struggling with mental health issues can feel very isolating. It becomes easy to convince yourself that you’re alone, and while I always encourage alone time when you think it’s needed, it’s also important to remind yourself that in many ways, you’re not alone. You have friends and family who love you and are there for you. And even if you don’t feel like you have that support system, you’re still not alone because there are so many other people out there dealing with what you’re going through. You are not the only one in this fight. Reminding yourself of your support system and the other people dealing with similar issues can be comforting and help decrease feelings of isolation on a bad mental health day and every day.
5. It’s okay to take a break from life.
On bad mental health days, chances are you’ll want to hide away from the world, and you might end up feeling bad for neglecting your responsibilities, loved ones, or to-do lists. But remind yourself that it’s okay to take a break, especially when you’re struggling with your mental health. Give yourself all the time and space you need in order to effectively get through your bad mental health day. Everything else can wait.
6. You deserve to put yourself first.
Taking a break from life to focus on your mental health is not selfish. When you’re going through a difficult time, it’s essential to put yourself first. That’s the only way you’re going to have any hope of feeling better. When you’re having a bad mental health day, remind yourself that you deserve to put yourself first so you can focus on helping yourself feel better.
7. Your emotions don’t control you. You have the power.
Difficult emotions like anxiety and depression can feel overwhelming and powerful, and they might make you feel like you’re losing all control. But remind yourself that you hold the power over your emotions. Telling yourself this is the first step in attempting to regain your sense of control and fight against those difficult emotions.
8. You are not defined by the way you feel.
You are not your emotions. They are simply a thing that happens to you and they do not take away from your character or personality or who you truly are. Remind yourself that you are more than the way you feel.
9. These feelings won’t last forever.
On a bad mental health day, it becomes difficult to see any way out. But even though you can’t be certain of exactly when these emotions will pass, remind yourself that they won’t last forever. I know it’s hard to convince yourself of this when you’re going through it, but try to give yourself some hope. No matter how long it takes, you’ll eventually start to feel better.
10. There’s always tomorrow.
When your bad mental health day starts to feel difficult and overwhelming and impossible, remind yourself of the hope of a new day, a chance to start fresh and try again. Today might’ve been bad, but there’s always tomorrow.
A bad mental health day is anything but easy, and unfortunately there is not one foolproof way to get through these kinds of days. But a shift in mindset and intentionally choosing the words you say to yourself can be a big help. The next time you have a bad mental health day, try these ten reminders and do whatever works for you to help yourself feel better. And whenever you’re going through a difficult time with your mental health, remember there is always a way and a reason to get through it.
what do you think?