Yesterday, I had a bad day.

While that may sound simple, maybe even silly, let me clarify what I mean by that.

You see, my "bad days" have me slogging from one moment to the next: numb, a pit growing deep down, starting in my stomach and twisting itself around my limbs, leaving me with a weight that keeps me immobile. I could lay in bed and be restless, yet when I try to rise, attempt to occupy my time, I find myself too exhausted to even consider leaving bed.

You see, dear friends: I have depression, and it doesn't discriminate. My bad days could fall on good days, when I'm succeeding, pushing myself, even though it feels like I'm pushing a rock up a steep hill, and I'm terrified that it will crush me.

My bad days could fall on really awful days, the days where I'm already lonely, already sad, already kicked down by Life as I know it. On the "Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad" days, it is as if I've been thrown overboard, abandoned with only an anchor locked onto my ankle, descending, but not fast enough to put me out of my misery.

On days like that, I forget that I'm not the only one who feels like that. But on days like today, when I can sit down and realize that I'm not alone in this, I can't help but want to try to help.

So to those of you who are having a "Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad" day today, try to remember at least one thing:

Love yourself.

It's silly, and maybe even cruel, to say that, especially on an awful day, but it is a start. Take care of yourself, and show yourself that you see the value that you hold.

I personally do that via self-care, which, to be honest, was a groundbreaking idea to me when I learned about it this year. If you are unfamiliar, believe me, it is a very simple, and not at all selfish (and besides, it's okay to be a selfish, as long as it doesn't harm others, and makes you happy). I find that, by walking through the steps, completing this "checklist" calms me down and soothes me, and I suppose even distracts me.

Start with your needs. Have you eaten today? Are you dehydrated? Are you tired? Have you taken your medication today? Are you in pain/feeling ill? Do you feel uncomfortable or dirty?

Then, step by step, take care of yourself. Eat a snack or a meal, drink a glass of water, take a shower, etc. Anything that makes you feel better.

Then, move on to your environment. Is there something about the space around you that is harming you/making you uncomfortable—be it temperature, cleanliness, sounds (or lack thereof)? Do you need to distance yourself from people, or do you need to reach out and make contact with a friend/loved one/pet?

And then, again, take care of yourself. Clean, turn the heat up (or down, seeing that it's summer now), surround yourself with those you love.

And last, but definitely not least: move on to your wants. Is there a hobby that you like to do? A show that you like to watch, that makes you feel better? An activity that you can focus your attentions on, be it coloring, exercising, or listening to music? Whatever you can do to soothe yourself and cheer yourself up, do so.

And though it may not work all the time, loving yourself, be it via self care, or any way that you find works best for you, can help so much. As long as you know that you are beautiful, you are smart, you are valued, you are prized, and that the world would never be the same without you being alive and well today...

Well... that's what really matters.