“Katie, why aren’t you talking?”, “Katie, you aren’t super happy today,” “Why do you look so sad today?”. These are all phrases I have heard more than once and I am sure I am not the only one that has been told similar things. I am typically a person who cracks jokes and uses humor in light of sad situations and I am normally laughing, hoping to spread a little positivity in each situation I am in. I think it is my personality that makes people so surprised on the days that I don’t feel super chipper. I am supposed to be the pick-me-up friend right? So why is it that on some days I find myself struggling to pick myself up?
This has been an internal battle of mine for years. I couldn’t come to grips with my emotions and how it was possible to be so happy one day and to be pretty down the next day. It took a lot of understanding and sympathy to comprehend that how I was feeling was completely normal and I wasn’t alone. There are days when I am okay, better than okay, ecstatic, and days where I am not okay. And THIS is okay. Our brains are not meant to function on pure serotonin. It eventually runs out and we are left with feelings of sadness.
If you are ever feeling down, don’t let anyone judge you or your situation. Your goal in life is not to only pick other people up and make them happy, but to worry about yourself and your own happiness. It is okay to be sad sometimes and for some individuals who struggle with mental illness, this sometimes is more often and frequent. Everyone deserves the right to an off-day once in a while. Put your own mental health first, and if this sadness begins to swallow your life, reach out and speak to a professional.
The next time you are not feeling okay, take a step back, breathe, and accept the fact that it is okay. In the end, one bad day does not define who you are and never think that you are alone. Even if it is just me saying this to you, know I am someone who can relate; I’ve been there. Whenever I am feeling down, I spend some time alone to recognize how I am feeling and why I think this is happening. I give myself some time to feel all of my feelings and then I will try my hardest to do things that bring me that inner peace and happiness. Whether it be watching my favorite movie, going to Target with my roomies, or even baking something; it makes me feel a little more grounded.
Put yourself first, because without your own mental health you won’t be able to show up for yourself and others. But also never forget, it is okay to not be okay all the time.