“It’s okay not to be okay.” Hearing those words for the first time years ago made me feel like my heart was breaking open.
You mean I don’t have to pretend?
I don’t have to wear this smiley, happy, face when I feel so sad inside? I was so used to always feeling like I had to pretend. Being depressed made people uncomfortable. Being depressed made ME uncomfortable. People want to know what’s wrong and sometimes there isn’t an answer to that question.
And with everything that’s going on in the world right now, I am reminded of that phrase that meant so much to me. “It’s okay not to be okay right now.”
I want to take a moment to hold space for the feelings that you might be having this month. It’s hard to process events like this. I know that I’ve judged myself because I tend to emotionally shut down and that can make me feel like I’m a crappy person. I just want to tell you that there’s no right way to feel. You’re not a bad person for feeling numb, furious, depressed, overwhelmed, or anxious to the max.
Give yourself a little space to be human. It’s okay not to be okay.
Your body and mind are feeling so much and it’s okay if you don’t know what to do with all of that emotion.
A few days ago, I re-created this older printable. I am so passionate about having conversations about mental health as early as possible. I did a poll on Instagram a few weeks ago and 83% of people said they started experiencing a mental health disorder while under the age of 18. It is so important to talk to your kiddos about mental health. Here is a list of resources that are available when it comes to reaching out for help. This is a list of resources that might be helpful.
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