Sometimes it is the smallest thing that saves us: the weather growing cold, a child's smile, and a cup of excellent coffee.
-Jonathan Carroll

[tw: this article is about mental health and advice on how to feel better. if you don't want to read about those things, don't read this article. here's an article about cute baby animals <3]

animals, article, and baby animals image Cute Baby Animals by @LondonNelida

Now, this is a touchy subject (mental health I mean, not cute baby animals). However, I think mental health is still a taboo in most countries and communities, when it definitely shouldn't be. People are sick, we need to talk about what's going on.

I'm not going to go into too much detail about my own life and my own struggles. But to give a little backstory; life gets pretty dark sometimes and at this very moment I feel stressed, tired and quite horrible. But, here I am, writing this article. Trying to make the best of it. Also, the biggest help for me has been getting professional help. It's not as scary as it sounds. So I definitely recommend it if you have the chance.

Here are 4 real tips what I think are helpful, when you feel like everything's pointless. These things might not be helpful for you, but there's no hurt in trying. (Disclaimer: I'm no doctor nor expert, so take that into count. These are my opinions and I'm not saying that these things will cure you, these are the things that have helped me and what I'm trying to do/incorporate into my life) <3

Sleep

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Sleep is important, and I don't mean 2 hour long naps during the day, I mean real, deep sleep at night. This is not always easy, especially when it feels like your mind is a mess. But try to form a routine, find what makes you feel relaxed at night. Humans literally cannot function properly without sleep, so try to invest some of your time to figuring out how you can sleep better.

Talk

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Opening up is hard. It's really hard. There are so many times I have stayed quiet. But slowly I'm learning that talking about my problems and hardships does help. I'm not a burden and neither are you. Find someone you can trust and just talk about something. You don't have to share everything if it doesn't feel right, but even a small chat goes a long way. And if you're worried about something you told to someone who betrayed your trust; don't worry, even if what you shared was real and honest, it's all okay, the world needs more of that. (btw i have never seen tfios, is it good?)

Do

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Do something. Make your bed. Dance to a song that's playing on the radio. Go sit outside for five minutes. Go stare at a cool painting until you feel at ease. Pick some flowers. Do something normal, do something cheesy, just do something. It doesn't matter how you do it, just do it. It helps you to feel that you always were and still are in control of your own life.

Hope

light, europe, and world image moon, space, and stars image Temporarily removed Image by Z🦋ina
Whatever makes you feel hopeful, trust that feeling. The urge to travel, believing that there is something bigger than all of us in this universe, the people around you, or just wanting to experience the beauty that is self love - everything is important. Leaving this planet is never worth it. Miracles happen every day. And now that I'm getting too sappy, I'll stop myself.

There are no life changing words I can write that you'll read and feel like everything is now okay. Healing and getting better is a weird, personal and a painful journey that doesn't start one day and end on another. I'm still figuring things out myself. Everyday.

Hearing "It gets better", doesn't really help when you in the moment feel awful. But, in that moment, find a thought that is saying something hopeful, hold onto that, and do it every time you feel like it's all over. It's not all over, life goes on, this moment passes and the sun rises again.

Sending you an enormous amount of love and strength,
Lea