Whether you live with mental health challenges or know someone that does, you may know that healing is not a linear path. There are ups and downs and some days feel like you are taking 10 steps backwards instead of forwards.

We all have mental health and need to take care of it as we do with our physical health and wellbeing. We all need to take days to care for our mental health and need someone we can talk to when life gets rough or when we have stressful days at work, school or at home. Or even when we have trouble navigating relationships with our friends, family, or partner.

When we aren’t intentional in caring for our mental health, we can be more susceptible to experiencing bad mental health days. Just as washing our hands can prevent us from getting sick - processing our emotions and allowing ourselves to feel what we are experiencing in the present moment can help lessen the number of bad mental health days we experience.

It is absolutely okay to have bad days or moments you don’t show up well. We all make mistakes, mess up, or procrastinate. We all know the feeling of not feeling worthy or feeling that we are not good enough. It’s okay to not be okay.

Sometimes hitting rock bottom isn’t the worst thing that can happen to you, because from there you can only rise up. It may be just what you need in order to be convinced that you need to do something differently or come to realize that you want to do better.

What are some things that you can do to take care of your mental health?

Here are some suggestions….

• Journal / write
• Exercise
• Colour
• Play music
• Dance
• Practice mindfulness
• Talk to someone they trust
• Hangout with friends
• Get outside
• Read memes
• Take medication
• See a therapist

There are so many ways to care for your mental health and what works for one person may not work for another. Find what works for you and create your own toolbox of coping strategies and resources.

Then next time you have a bad mental health day you will be better equipped and feel more at ease. You can get through all the moments you think that may feel heavy or are painful. You’re not alone in how you feel or what you may be experiencing.

Our bad mental health days don’t define us. Mental health and the challenges are things we experience and not who we are. We are not anxious - we experience anxiety. We are not sick - we experience illness. Nothing we experience is permanent and set in stone.