Why It's Okay To Not Be Okay
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

Why It's Okay To Not Be Okay

Sometimes anxiety gets the best of us, and that's okay.

21
Why It's Okay To Not Be Okay
Katie Crawford
"Not until we are lost do we begin to understand ourselves." - Henry David Thoreau

This past week was a little rough for me, to say the least. It started Sunday night with the worst panic attack I've had in a long time, continuing with a migraine and more panic attacks Monday. I felt crazy; like I couldn't do anything right and the world was ending. It felt like there was a hole in my chest sucking in air, getting deeper with every painful breath. My heart pounded and my mind raced. I couldn't stop shaking. Feeling miserable and incompetent, I took the day off from class on Tuesday to focus on getting myself right again.

I've dealt with anxiety all of my life, before I even knew what it was. I always felt ashamed whenever it rendered me incapable of functioning. I thought I was just being lazy or unmotivated when I'd start hyperventilating just thinking about going to school or an event, but now I know that it's really a chemical imbalance in my brain that causes these periods of irrational panic.

Don't get me wrong, even though I know better now, I still feel crappy and beat myself up about it in the moment. I feel guilty for cancelling plans with shaking hands, wondering if my friends will finally give up on me this time. As busy as I am, it's just plain inconvenient to not be able to sleep at night because your thoughts are spinning 1,000 mph, making you feel like you can't breathe. What I've been trying to do, though, is tell myself that it's okay to not be okay.

When I get feelings of panic, it's my body's way of telling me to slow down and examine if everything that I think is vitally important is really necessary. It's still a work in progress, but I'm slowly but surely learning what's important. I also keep repeating this constant mantra in my head: "It's okay to not be okay. This is exactly where you're supposed to be and how you're supposed to be feeling right now."

I remind myself that emotions demand to be felt, and should be felt in the moment they occur. Even though I had no explanation for my panic attacks earlier in the week, I told myself that it was okay. It's okay to feel bad sometimes. It's okay to be sad or angry or lonely or overwhelmed. When we deny having these emotions and pretend everything's okay, they pile up until you explode.


We are humans, with a wide range of emotions more complex than any emoji can ever illustrate. If you wake up in the morning and don't feel 100%, don't beat yourself up over it. Know that you are allowed to feel emotions other than happy. Don't feel obligated to plaster a fake smile on your face. Talk to someone you trust about how you're feeling just to vent. If they tell you, "You shouldn't be complaining, some people have it much worse," or something along those lines, promptly tell them where they can shove it and walk away. Sometimes you just need to vent so you don't lose your mind, and if they can't understand that then you don't need them in your life.

The next time you're feeling less than okay, take a breath. Do what you need to do to make yourself comfortable again, whether it's taking the day off or going for hike. You know what's best for you. Don't feel guilty for taking care of yourself. You ultimately learn and grow the most when you're not okay.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

47231
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

29945
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

954062
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

169144
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments