We have all reached that point where there is too much stress in our lives. Everything seems to be happening all at once and there’s no pause button. For some reason, it is thought that crying or breaking down is a sign of weakness. That is not true and expressing your feelings in a healthy way is better for you.

If you have a difficult exam tomorrow or an important job interview coming up, it’s OK to be stressed out and let your feelings out. As long as is does not harm someone or yourself, go for it. Everyone has bad days and it is OK to not have everything together. Let’s face it, life does not work out the way we think it will. It is not possible to plan everyday of your life.

Holding too much in is not healthy, according to healthcare professionals. We do not have to have this image where everything is fine, when really, things are not. Talking about the issues that we have, crying, or screaming into a pillow is acceptable.

Taking the time to vent about your problems or just breathing is enough to feel better. It is hard to convince ourselves of this, because everywhere you see the weak as someone crying, when really showing emotion does not make you weak. Crying because you’ve had a rough week is actually therapeutic. Crying releases endorphins, which make you feel better.

The people who you think are always put together and have a smile on their face may be the ones who have breakdowns in their room. There does not need to be this illusion that you are always on top of everything. It can be harder for those who know they are seen as the ones having their life together, because they may not and feel even more pressure.

We all have setbacks, but don’t let those discourage you or lead you to thinking that you cannot do something just because you could not do it today. When you’re done, brush it off and get back to work. No judgment here. Whether it is trying to exercise more frequently and you miss a week, just pick it back up where you left off. Trying not to spend money, but you splurged today and maybe yesterday? Well there’s nothing you can do about it now (except maybe return it), but one setback does not mean failure. You cried five times today? Well, that is probably because you needed to.

Having a shoulder to cry on, screaming in the nearest pillow or in your room by yourself can make all the difference. We are not robots; we do not have to put on a fake smile to please anyone. Ultimately, you cannot please everybody anyway. When your best friend asks you how you’re doing, saying you’re not doing well is OK. They do not have to fix the problem, but you will know that you have support.

Falling apart can be the trigger to your strength and for you to see what you are truly capable of.