My Brain's Not Broken

Every so often (maybe one or twice a week), I get a little restless. I feel like I have a lot of nervous energy, and I don’t know what to do with it all. In larger sense, I describe it as feeling “off.” Most of the time, I end up finding a clear reason about why that is – a big life event, a change in my schedule, even just missing a meal or a step in my routine can cause it. But sometimes I can’t quite pick out what’s missing, and that’s what I want to talk about to today. When we’re feeling “off,” what can we do?

Before I go further, let me also say that some days, you just don’t have it. As someone who lives with mental illness, I want to tell you that some days are just like that. You might feel restless or tired or sad, and some days you may just have to go with the flow of your feelings and take care of yourself. It’s not always as simple as that, but hey – sometimes it is.

But back to what I was saying. I talk about feeling “off” quite a bit on this blog, not only because it’s something I experience often, but also because I think it’s a pretty universal feeling. This feeling might look a little different for you than it does for me, but there’s still a shared experience where you’re not quite feeling like yourself – something everyone has experienced at one point or another in their lives.

This post is not about the solution. Rather, it’s about finding what the solution could be. There are so many times where I’ve not felt like myself, and my girlfriend asks me what I’ve been up to lately. Have I been meditating? Have I done any of my hobbies that I love recently? When was the last time I ran? These questions don’t necessarily mean I’ll spring into action, but they remind me that I might be feeling on edge because it’s been awhile since I’ve done something just for me. And I think there’s tremendous value in that.

Of course, there’s not always someone in our lives who will hold us accountable, or they may not always be available in that moment. That’s why I want to encourage you (and myself, to be honest) to make some room for those thoughts when you’re feeling a little “off.” Check in with yourself and reflect on what’s been going on in your day-to-day life. It might not change much, but hopefully slowing down and trying to find some clarity helps you take the next step you need – wherever and whatever that means to you. Have a good week, friends!