„Smile, it`ll get better! Think positive! Everything happens for a reason!“ Have you ever heard that before? Do you say it to yourself? But what if not every pain needs to be instantly covered up with a smile? What if it`s okay not to be okay? Toxic positivity teaches us that we must be happy no matter what. But sometimes, that is the biggest mistake. How do we break free from the pressure to always be happy and allow ourselves feel real emotions?
For years, I was running at full speed. A job in marketing, constant projects, events, kids, divorce, shared custody, a mortgage. Every day packed with tasks, every evening feeling like I hadn’t done enough. And then one day, everything exploded. After years of pushing through, I wasn’t just facing financial trouble—I had a bigger problem. My own mind had betrayed me.
These days, everyone talks about the importance of mental health. But I’ll be honest—I didn’t know how to take care of mine for a long time. I carried it all inside, telling myself, “You can handle this.” And yet, deep down, I wished someone would see that I wasn’t okay. Why is it still so hard to say, “I need help”? And why does asking sometimes feel even harder than the struggle itself?