Do you ever feel like you are being crushed by the weight of negative thoughts and self-doubt?
Have you ever been in a situation where dark thoughts are clouding your vision and it’s hard to see the light?
As a mental health advocate, I have struggled too.
Seeing things for what they really are can be very difficult when you are struggling with your mental health, but trying to focus on a few mental health reminders can be really helpful.
Even if it’s hard to believe them right now, these mental health reminders can help you to bring your thoughts into perspective and remember the true value that you bring to the world.
If you’re having a hard time right now, or even a bad day, I encourage you to check out this list of mental health reminders to bring you some peace, hope, and love.
1. You Are Not Alone
When you are struggling with anxiety, depression, stress, or other things, it can be easy to fall into the mindset that you are alone.
It’s hard to imagine that anyone else is going through similar things.
The good news I have for you is that you are not alone.
1 in 4 people struggle with their mental health in any given year.
You may feel like you’re alone, but I promise you, you are not!
2. You Won’t Feel This Way Forever
I know from firsthand experience that when things are bad, it feels like it will be like this forever.
When you’re stuck in the darkness, it’s hard to even imagine that the light will one day come back in.
But I know from my own experience that you won’t feel this way forever.
You never know what tomorrow will hold and there is always hope that the future will be better.
3. You Deserve to Take Care Of Yourself
Your mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health is a priority.
You deserve to take care of yourself.
Taking care of your health and wellbeing first ensures that you have the energy to take care of others.
Taking care of yourself isn’t just limited to your physical needs. You also deserve to take care of your intangible needs too.
Taking care of your mental health could look like seeing a therapist or making time for daily meditation.
Taking care of your emotional health could include spending time with a good friend once a week.
Taking care of your spiritual health could include going to church or spending time praying every day.
The intangible needs aren’t always as obvious so it can be easy to overlook them, but they are just as important (if not more important), than taking care of your physical needs.
4. It’s Okay to Not Feel Good All The Time
Have you ever heard of toxic positivity?
Toxic positivity has become popular lately.
A few examples of toxic positivity are: Don’t worry, be happy! Always look on the bright side! Think happy thoughts! Good vibes only!
While the intent behind these phrases is good (I think), they are actually more harmful than good.
It’s okay to not feel good all the time, and when someone tells you to think happy thoughts and always look on the bright side, it disregards and invalidates your true feelings.
As humans, none of us feel happy and positive all the time, and that’s okay! We’re not meant to!
Forcing ourselves to think happy thoughts and always look on the bright side isn’t going to change that truth. It will only make us feel invalidated.
5. It’s Okay to Ask For Help
This mental health reminder is one of my favorites.
It’s okay to ask for help!
Life is hard and you shouldn’t be expected to figure it all out yourself.
Asking for help is a sign of strength. If you need help, reach out to someone.
Reach out to someone you trust: a friend or a family member.
Asking for help could also look like going to see a therapist or counselor, or signing up for a therapy app so that you can get some advice from a professional.
Help is always available and it will make you feel so much better!
6. It’s Okay to Take A Break
Another thing about our culture that I’m not thrilled about is the “hustle culture“.
Working long hours, workaholism, toxic productivity – all of these things lead to burnout.
Buying into the hustle culture can be tempting because it often leads to positive external recognition and rewards.
Examples: “That person is such a hard worker”, “You always get the job done”, “I can always expect you to go above and beyond”
While these comments can be flattering, there is a dark side to this that is unseen. Prioritizing “the job” over your own rest and self-care is never sustainable in the end.
Burnout can hit quickly and can lead to illness, exhaustion, or worse.
Nothing is worth sacrificing your health.
Always take a break and rest when you need to.
7. You Matter
When we’re feeling down on ourselves, it can be easy to fall into the mindset that we don’t matter.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Your life is important and significant even if it doesn’t feel like it all the time or right now.
8. You’re Not Broken
You are not broken or in need of fixing. You are perfectly imperfect and a work in progress just like the rest of us.
Every human being in the world has limitations and flaws and it does not make them broken.
It just makes them human.
It’s okay if you’re not perfectly happy with yourself. No one is, and that’s okay.
Sometimes we discover that our limitations are actually gifts.
9. It’s Okay To Go At Your Own Pace
It’s so easy to want to keep up with the Jones’s.
Sometimes it seems like everyone is in competition with each other and trying to out-do one another.
But guess what? It’s okay to go at your own pace.
You don’t need to out-do anyone to prove that you’re good enough or worthy.
You are worthy just the way you are.
10. You Are Good Enough Just The Way You Are
I mentioned this in #9 so I thought it would be good to end with this one.
You are good enough just the way you are.
We are all incredibly unique and bring our own gifts to the world.
From the beginning, you were set apart and made to be one of a kind.
Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
Be yourself and let your light shine – the world is a better place because of what you bring to it.
10 Mental Health Reminders for When You’re Struggling
Here is a list of mental health resources if you need some extra support: Mental Health Resources
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15 Powerful Journal Prompts for Mental Health
9 Comments
Something I remind myself of often when I feel down is it is ok not to be ok. I also write letters to God in my prayer journal.
Love that!
Very helpful points for something that a lot of people struggle with!
These are good reminders. I think covid in the lockdown has really opened people’s eyes to their mental Health. I’m glad that it is starting to become a little less stigmatizing.
I asked for help this week when I couldnt write a blog post so I asked for a guest article.
These are great reminders to keep handy when feeling low.
I often, at such moments, take a break: a long walk, do something I enjoy doing most and take delight in my small wins.
Cheers
I struggle with anxiety and depression and this was a good article to read. Thank you for these reminders!
This is a great reminder and such good tips on mental health. Such an important topic for people right now. Thanks for sharing!
These reminders are so good! Love this quote, โ You are good enough just the way you are.โ We may be growing constantly but we also must accept who are where we are while we move forward. Excellent post!
Pastor Natalie
Letstakeamoment.com