When It Feels Like You’re Drowning

Hey, can we get real for a minute?

Life can be really hard, and I often struggle to stay afloat and keep my head above the water. With mental health and physical health both taking its toll, it’s no wonder we struggle. And the world is really, really scary. Keeping our courage and remaining hopeful in the face of it all can be extremely difficult.

Personally, for my entire life I’ve struggled frequently with depression and anxiety (this month has been a more difficult one with both). From experience, dealing with these things isn’t easy. It’s a lot easier to just shrug them off instead of having honest conversations about our mental health, especially when those conversations have the potential to hurt more than heal. It can be extremely vulnerable and flat out terrifying to bare your soul, to say “Hey, I’m struggling, and here’s why.”

It is sometimes impossible to confess that we are not okay. It is sometimes impossible to ask for help. It is sometimes impossible to live without feeling like you’re stuck in the middle of the ocean, pounded relentlessly by waves of grief, fear, or loneliness. I’m in these waves too, and I’m in them often. There’s a storm brewing; the skies are gray. The sea is churning, taking us along with it. And it’s a terrifying place to be in.

And yet... This is me telling you you’re not alone.