Does it ever get better? That question is something to
hold on to, a glimmer of hope, but also a source of doubt.
When you're going through a rough patch, it can feel
impossible to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
It can feel like the weight of the world will never lift.
However, I'm here to tell you it absolutely can and will get
better. The key time self-care patients.
Today we're going to dive into what better really means, why
time heals all and how to take care of yourself while you're
struggling. My name is Ethan Jewell and
welcome back to Feel Your Feelings.
Before we start, I want to remind you I'm not a doctor.
I'm not a psychiatrist or a professional in the mental
health industry whatsoever. I'm a normal person who, just
like you, has experienced some big feelings and wants to start
raw conversations to raise real, relatable mental health
awareness. So thank you so much for tuning
in and let's feel some feelings now.
If you're having a hard time and have been struggling for weeks,
months, maybe even years, you might find yourself asking, does
it ever get better? Does the weight you carry ever
get lighter? Will sleep ever come easy again?
Will life be enjoyable again? The truth is, the way that life
gets better isn't some magical transformation that happens
overnight. Instead, it's a gradual process,
and a lot of that process involves showing up for
yourself, even when it gets hard.
Many people have this idea that better means everything will be
sunshine and rainbows and you'll never struggle again.
But better doesn't mean perfect. It doesn't mean that you'll
magically wake up one day and never struggle with your mental
health ever again. That's an unrealistic
expectation to hold. It'll only lead to
disappointment and more struggle.
What better means is that the dark days may not disappear
entirely, but there'll be fewer and farther between.
This journey isn't about finding some magical cure that makes you
instantly better. Instead, it's about redefining
what better looks like for you. It's about progress, not
perfection. It's about giving yourself grace
and patience. Time to feel, reflect and hurt.
Space to feel all of your feelings without guilt or shame.
Getting better isn't a magical cure.
It's taking care of yourself until it gets easier.
This progress is showing up for yourself, taking care of
yourself, saying no to commitments when you're
struggling, loving yourself through it all and being
prepared and expecting things to get harder before they get
easier. Because an unfortunate truth
about mental health is that it isn't a linear line upward.
Getting better has its ups and downs.
You'll have good days, bad days, and everything between, and
that's OK. That doesn't mean you're not
learning and improving. It means that you're human and
you're living through a full range of emotions that you can
experience. Progress happens all throughout
that range and is often invisible.
Even on days where you fall back into old habits or face
difficult feelings, you are still progressing.
It just takes time. Time is a crucial factor in
healing your mental health. As you give yourself time to
grow, you become stronger and more equipped to handle life's
challenges. Of course, you can't do nothing
and expect that growth to happen, but if you at least try,
put an effort and give yourself time, you will see slow growth
in healing. Time allows for reflection,
perspective, and learning. You can reflect and learn about
who you are and what you need to heal.
When we consider or think about healing often we think we need
to have it all figured out before we start to get better.
But that isn't true. We have to just dive head 1st
and try and try and throw ourselves at it over and over
again and we may not see progress right away.
Think about how plants grow day by day.
They get a little bit stronger, but the progress isn't always
visible at first. You'll develop new coping
mechanisms as you learn more about yourself.
If you allow yourself to feel your feelings, you'll learn what
makes you feel better. What once felt overwhelming
becomes more manageable with time.
As you continue to take care of yourself, giving yourself that
space to understand your ability to handle difficult emotions
grows. Time is crucial to your mental
health growth, but you have to spend that time in a productive
way by taking care of you. Things don't just get better
instantly, but with time. Through consistent care for
yourself, you'll slowly unlock coping mechanisms and knowledge
about your mental health. You'll find it easier to hold
on, and then one day it won't be so bad.
For some, it never truly goes away.
You just have to be nice to yourself until it gets easier.
So lean on others. Stick to a routine to reach out
to professionals, reach out to friends, be kind to yourself.
So does it ever get better? The answer is yes, but maybe not
in the way we sometimes hope. It doesn't happen overnight, but
you will one day wake up and find it all a little bit easier,
a little more manageable. The dark days may not disappear
entirely, but they will get easier to navigate.
If you are struggling right now, it's OK to take it one day at a
time. You're doing better than you
think, and by showing up for yourself every day with a small
act of care or love, you're already on the path of healing.
Keep going, keep taking care of yourself, and let time do its
work. It will get better.
There's no magical cure. Give yourself space and time
until it gets a little bit easier.
That's going to wrap it up for today's episode.
Thank you so much for tuning in. If you need help feeling your
feelings, you should check out my music on all platforms under
the name of Ethan Jewel and I almost guarantee it'll make you
cry. Also shoot me a message on my
Instagram at Jewel Boy with an I under score and let me know what
you thought about today's episode.
So thank you so much for being here, Thank you for
understanding that it will get better.
And as always, thank you for feeling your feelings.
I'll see you next time.