It's okay to not be okay . . .

... but it's not okay to stay that way.

It's okay to not be okay

We all have times in life where we are struggling more than normal, when times are particularly hard. But for some of us, those times linger and we need more resources to help us get to a better place.

It's okay to not be okay. That's what makes you human and being human is a good thing.

So often, I hear people say things like, "I shouldn't feel this way." or "I know in my head that things are not so bad, but I can't feel it." or "I feel so much shame for not being okay."

There are 1,000s and 1,000s of reasons why someone might struggle. Your struggle is different from someone else’s struggle. Even if you judge your own circumstances as "not so bad" or "it could be worse," your struggle is yours - so it is the first one that impacts you.

I want you to hear this:

It's okay to not be okay . . . but it's not okay to stay that way.

It's not okay to stay that way.

While it is okay to struggle, it is not okay to stay struggling when help is available to you. Reaching out for help, whether to a counsellor, a friend, or a manager, is hard. It is so hard.

It takes courage to believe that things could be better. And it takes great bravery to reach out when you're overwhelmed. Reaching out is hard to do, but it is so worth it.

Perhaps you wonder if counselling will help you? Or if there is any difference between a counsellor and a friend. Or if counselling can even help you.  

You don't have to stay unwell. Whether you believe it or not right now, you are worth caring for. You deserve to be okay.