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Mental health is an important part of being happy. It’s not just about not feeling stressed or sad, but a healthy balance between the two. However, in our busy lives it can be hard to maintain that balance at times. Having a bad mental health day can happen to anyone; sometimes you may feel more anxious, stressed, or depressed than usual. We all have those days when we feel less than fabulous.

Yep, that sounds about right

If you’re reading this and thinking “Yep, that sounds about right!” then you probably have a fair idea of what it means to have a bad mental health day – and trust us when we say you’re not alone! Having a bad mental health day doesn’t mean there is something wrong with you – it happens to everyone from time to time. In fact, if you don’t ever feel like this, there may be something wrong with you!

What does a bad mental health day feel like?

A bad mental health day could be triggered by several things, such as a bad event, a reaction to medication, or just getting too stressed out and not managing your stress properly. They can last for minutes, hours, or even days. Generally, a bad mental health day will involve feeling more anxious, stressed, or depressed than usual.

What to expect

While every bad mental health day is different, there are a few common experiences shared by most people: – You may notice that you have more negative thoughts than usual. You might be more pessimistic and have less of an optimistic outlook on life. – You are more likely to have an emotional reaction to a situation. It might be that you cry easily or get angry easily. – You might have more physical symptoms, such as feeling exhausted, having a headache, or feeling sick.

But what if I don't?

However everyone experiences different emotions in their day to day life, so a bad mental health day may look completely different to what's listed here. You may have one feeling, all or none, but that doesn't mean you aren't having a bad mental health day. The worst thing you can do is start to compare your mental health to other peoples, instead, focus on your emotions and what your body needs.

How to take care of yourself when you’re having a bad mental health day

If you’re having a bad mental health day, the last thing you want to do is add any unnecessary pressure to yourself. On bad mental health days, most people don’t have the energy to squeeze in a workout or make healthy food choices. Instead, make things as easy as possible for yourself.

– Eat something unhealthy without feeling guilty, just make sure you jump back on the good food when as fast as you can so you can reap the benefits on nutrients.

– Don’t feel guilty about cancelling plans if you can’t handle them. If a friend is stressing you out, or you have too much on your plate, make the decision to cancel.

– Don’t worry about doing things perfectly. If you’re having a bad mental health day and you make a mistake, there’s no need to beat yourself up about it.

– Give yourself permission to take a break. Although you should make an effort to stay productive, you can also take a break when you need it.

– Make it as easy as possible for yourself. Stay in bed or on the couch, watch TV, or just stay in your room for a day.

– Don’t feel bad about sleeping in or taking a nap. It can help you feel better.

– Self love rainbow has this amazing journal style worksheets that are specifically designed for bad mental health days. Head over by this link (This is an affiliate link because I truly believe that this product will help so many people)

Strategies to help you feel better right away

As soon as you recognize that you’re having a bad mental health day, take immediate action to help yourself feel better. Here are some ideas:

– Take a break from whatever you’re doing. You may be trying too hard and pushing yourself too hard and that can often make anxiety and depression worse.

-Take a break from work/school/your hobby, or try to relax your body and mind with a short meditation or breathing exercise.

– Get outside. Spend a few minutes in nature to help calm your mind, body, and soul. The sun releases natural endorphins, meaning we feel better by being in sunshine.

– Take a warm bath or shower. The warm water will help relax your muscles and may make you feel less stressed out.

– Listen to your favourite music. Music can be an amazing way to clear your mind, reduce anxiety, and improve your mood.

– Journal. Writing down your thoughts and feelings can often help you process them better. Self love rainbow also have an amazing journal which will help you to feel better as it is all about gratitude.

– Get a massage. Massages are extremely helpful for reducing anxiety, stress, and depression. However please be aware that during a massage emotions may come out of your body, so it is not uncommon to cry during or after a massage when you are feeling down, it is completely natural.

– Eat some food. Food is the fuel our body needs to get up an moving.

Strategies that will help you feel better over time

Bad mental health days can be extremely difficult to get through, but they don’t last forever. They are normal and everyone experiences them sometimes. Here are some things you can do to recover from a bad mental health day and make sure they’re less frequent in the future:

– Take care of yourself. On bad mental health days, you need to make sure you are getting enough sleep, eating healthy food, and exercising regularly. These things will help you feel better and avoid bad mental health days in the future.

– Try not to overdo it. Sometimes when you have a bad mental health day, you have a tendency to push yourself even harder. Make sure you don’t do this. Be gentle with yourself, and be realistic about your limits.

– Take time to relax. Make sure you give yourself time to relax and unwind after a stressful day. This can be as simple as spending time in nature or taking a bath.

– Talk to someone. Sharing your feelings can help you process them better. And if you’re feeling lonely, talking to someone can help you feel less alone. Support groups are also an amazing way to de-stress your life through communication.

– Don’t be too hard on yourself. Everyone has bad mental health days. You are not alone in having them, and they’re completely normal. You don’t have to feel guilty because you had a bad mental health day. It’s totally fine and normal.

Self love Rainbow – Why I support them

Having dealt with anxiety and depression through various stages of my life, I have tried many things and experienced many ways to get my life back on track. Sometimes the simplest ways can be the best and what I mean by that is writing things down or drawing. It may sound too easy, but even the smallest change in my mood towards happy would be the thing that I was able to hold onto. Self Love Rainbow have a massive range of digitial workbooks and self care worksheets that can help everybody in any stage of their life and journey. A few of my favourite items are below, and by the way, they have no idea exactly how much I am hyping them, I am just jumping for joy at the quality of these products!