Back On Mental Health - Part 2

Welcome back, Little Leaves!

A while ago, I wrote a post called Back on Mental Health. At the time, I talked about some of the changes I was making in my life to take better care of myself.

I was waking up early, going on walks, spending more time outside, reading my devotionals, and trying to find little pieces of peace wherever I could.

I’ve written about a lot of things since then, but lately, I’ve felt myself wanting to come back to this topic.

Not because I suddenly have all the answers. Trust me, I don’t.

I want to come back to it because mental health was one of the reasons I wanted this blog in the first place. I wanted somewhere I could be honest about the good days, the horrible days, and all those weird days in between when you don’t really know how you’re doing.

And I want you to be able to be honest here, too.

The truth is, I haven’t been doing the greatest mentally lately. I feel like I’ve said that a lot though recently.

I’ve been trying, and I think that’s an important difference. Then again, I’ve been saying that a lot, too.

I’ve been trying new things, finding things I enjoy, and making little changes in my life. There are days when I can actually feel those changes helping. Then there are other days when everything still feels like a lot.

My physical health hasn’t exactly made things easier. My shoulder has started acting up again, and I’ve been dealing with some other health problems on top of it. When you already aren’t doing great mentally, being in pain or not feeling well physically can make everything feel ten times harder.

Sometimes I get frustrated with myself because I am trying. I’m doing things that are supposed to help, so part of me wants to ask, “Why don’t I feel better yet?”

But I’m starting to realize that maybe trying doesn’t always look like immediately getting better.

Sometimes trying is getting out of bed and doing something new even when you’d rather stay home. Sometimes it’s finding something that makes you laugh when you’ve had an awful day. Sometimes it’s taking care of your body when it isn’t cooperating with you. And sometimes its admitting, “I’m actually not doing very well right now.”

That’s where I am.

I’m trying, but I’m also struggling. And I don’t think those two things have to cancel each other out.

I also want to start talking about this more because I don’t want Autumn’s Open Pages to be a place where I only show up after I’ve figured everything out. I want my Little Leaves to be able to come here while they’re still figuring things out, too.

You don’t need to have the perfect words. You don’t need to pretend you’re having a good week when you’re not. And you definitely don’t need to have your entire life figured out before you’re allowed to talk about what you’re going through.

I’m still figuring mine out right alongside you.

So, I want to hear from you. What have you been doing for yourself lately? Have you tried something new? Are you having a good week? A bad one? Somewhere awkwardly in the middle?

Whatever your answer is, there’s room for it here.

As for me, I’m going to keep trying. I’m going to keep finding new things that make life a little brighter, take care of myself the best I can, and give myself some grace on the days when I can’t do as much.

Maybe that’s enough for right now.

Thanks for reading, Little Leaves. Take care of yourselves, and I’ll see you next Saturday!

— Autumn

P.S. You can now follow me on Twitch and watch me every night! I changed my username. It’s now overthinkasaurus. It will be the profile with a cute pink dino on it. Hope to see some of you there!