HOW TO SHOW UP WHEN YOUR MENTAL HEALTH IS STRUGGLING 🧠

Ever feel like you’re barely keeping your head above water? Like your brain is short-circuiting, your emotions are louder than usual, and life keeps asking more of you when you have nothing left to give? If you’ve ever tried to “power through” a hard mental health season only to feel even more behind, this one’s for you.

In this raw and honest episode, I’m sharing what it’s looked like to show up while navigating a season of emotional overwhelm and protracted withdrawal after tapering off medication. This isn’t a step-by-step guide to fixing your mental health. It’s a compassionate reminder that you’re not broken—and you’re not alone.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:

✻ What protracted withdrawal is and why your emotions may feel so big right now
✻ Why healing often gets harder after you do the brave thing
✻ The pressure to perform—even when your mind and body say “no more”
✻ 5 simple ways to show up when everything feels unmanageable
✻ How to redefine productivity when you’re in survival mode

This conversation is tender. It’s real. And it’s a reminder that you don’t have to do it all to still be doing enough. Your small, imperfect efforts matter—especially in the hard seasons.

LET’S DIVE IN 🖤

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Hello Hello, Sisterhood! Welcome back to another episode of The SELF CARE Sisterhood. I’m going to be really honest today. I have been struggling. Like, deeply struggling. And if I’m feeling this, I know someone listening is too.

So this episode? It’s for us.

It’s for the person who feels like they’re barely holding it together. It’s for the person who looks fine on the outside but feels like they’re unraveling inside. It’s for the person navigating mental health—whether that means medication, therapy, holistic approaches, or just trying to get through the day.

And it’s also for the person who’s never struggled in this way but knows someone who does. Because mental health isn’t always easy to see, but I promise you—someone in your life needs your understanding.

Before we dive into today’s conversation though, I want to share something I’ve created that was born out of seasons just like this one—and that’s The Sisterhood Retreat.

Enrollment for the 2025 Sisterhood Retreat is officially OPEN.

This is a 3-day boutique-style retreat designed to help you pause and reflect on where you’ve been, reignite your vision for where you’re going, and walk into your next chapter with clarity, peace, and purpose.

It’s small, intimate, and deeply transformational. Think cozy girls weekend meets personal growth immersion—with calming practices like breathwork and yoga, oceanside journaling, soul-nourishing conversation, and powerful workshops that help you reset and reconnect—mind, body, and spirit.

If today’s conversation resonates with you and you’ve been craving clarity, momentum, or real support... I want to personally invite you to apply. You can DM me “I’m interested” or head to the show notes for the link to learn more.

Okay—deep breath. Let’s get into today’s episode.

My Mental Health Journey: Where I Am Right Now

A little backstory. In October and November, I went through ketamine therapy. Afterward, I started tapering off all my medications—two in total. I took six months to do it slowly because I wanted to give my body and brain time to adjust.

I thought once I was fully off, I’d feel free. But instead, the hardest part came after.

For the past month, my emotions have been all over the place. I cry all the time. My brain feels like it’s constantly being zapped—like static electricity firing off in my head. There’s this heaviness, this fog. And still, I’m trying to show up for everything—running a business, building a community, opening a coffee shop, creating content, hosting retreats. And let me tell you—it’s been a lot.

Most days, I feel like I’m missing the mark. I am missing the mark. And I hate that feeling.

But here’s what I know: I’m not alone in this.

And if you’ve ever felt like you’re failing at life because your mind and emotions aren’t cooperating, you’re not alone either.

Understanding Protracted Withdrawal (And Why Mental Health Struggles Feel So Uncontrollable)

Something I recently learned—something I wish I had known earlier—is that what I’m experiencing has a name: protracted withdrawal.

This isn’t my first time tapering off medication. I’ve done this before. And knowing how rough it was the first time, I was intentional about going slow—really slow—to try and minimize the withdrawal symptoms.

But even with that? The final taper hit me so much harder than I anticipated. Harder than the first time I went through this years ago. Harder than I thought possible.

And I had no idea why.

What I didn’t realize is that when you stop taking a medication that alters brain chemistry—especially something like an antidepressant—your brain doesn’t just snap back to baseline overnight. It has to relearn how to regulate neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine on its own. And that? Takes time.

For some people, symptoms last a few weeks. For others? Months or even years. Not because they’re weak. Not because they’re doing something wrong. But because their brain is literally rebuilding its pathways.

And suddenly, so much makes sense.

This explains why I feel so not me right now.
Why my emotions are heightened—why I cry all. the. time.
Why my thoughts feel heavier than usual.
Why my brain fog is so thick I can barely think straight.
Why my body feels wired but exhausted at the same time.

And here’s the thing—this isn’t just about medication.

If you’ve ever been in a season where your emotions felt bigger than you—whether from stress, grief, trauma, burnout, or a major life transition—this is why. Your brain and body are adjusting.

And when that happens? We crave control.

We try to power through. Push harder. Overcompensate. Hustle our way back to “normal.”
But that? Can actually make things worse.

Because healing isn’t about forcing yourself to be okay. It’s about allowing yourself to move through it—one moment at a time.

HOW TO Show Up When Everything Feels Unmanageable

Some seasons feel like survival mode. The weight of responsibilities, emotions, and expectations can feel like too much. Maybe you’ve been here before, or maybe you’re in it now. Either way, I want you to know—you’re not alone.

When life feels unmanageable, it’s easy to believe that you have to push through, handle it all, and keep going at full capacity. But the truth is, showing up in hard seasons isn’t about doing more—it’s about shifting how you do things.

This is for you if you’re struggling. But this is also for you if you’re not, because at some point, someone in your life will be. Mental health is deeply personal. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, but there are ways to make the weight feel a little lighter.

These are five things that have helped me stay afloat when everything feels heavy.

1. PICK YOUR BIG THREE

When you’re overwhelmed, you can’t do it all. But you can do three things.

Each morning, ask yourself: What are my three non-negotiables today?

🌿 Maybe it’s getting outside.
🌿 Maybe it’s answering one email.
🌿 Maybe it’s showing up for your family in a small way.

Your Big Three are your anchor points. They don’t have to be huge—they just need to be doable. This is about giving yourself permission to scale back without guilt.

2. CREATE A ‘LOW-ENERGY’ VERSION OF YOUR ROUTINE

Right now, I don’t have the energy for my ideal morning routine. But I can do a 5-minute version.

✨ Instead of a full workout, maybe you stretch for 2 minutes.
✨ Instead of journaling pages, maybe you write down one sentence: What do I need most today?
✨ Instead of a deep work session, maybe you set a timer for just 15 minutes.

Something is better than nothing. Lower the bar without guilt.

3. TAKE BREAKS BEFORE YOU THINK YOU NEED THEM

When you’re running on empty, you can’t afford to wait until burnout to rest.

🚨 Schedule the pause. Take the break. Step away.
🚨 Don’t wait for permission to rest—give it to yourself.

I know the temptation to “just push through,” but rest isn’t a reward for productivity—it’s a requirement for sustainability.

4. LET GO OF “PERFECT” AND EMBRACE DONE

Some of the things I’ve created in this season? They haven’t been my best work. But they’ve been done. And sometimes, done is enough.

If you’re waiting until you feel 100% like yourself to show up—you might be waiting forever. Give yourself permission to:

💛 Do B+ work instead of A+.
💛 Show up messy.
💛 Give 50% instead of 100%—because 50% is still something.

The goal isn’t perfection—it’s progress.

5. ANCHOR YOURSELF IN COMMUNITY

You don’t have to do this alone.

Lean on the people who love you. Let them in, even when it’s hard. Accept help, even when it feels uncomfortable.

If you don’t feel like you have that kind of support right now, start small. Send a text. Show up to that group. Reply to that message.

You are not a burden. You are not too much. You are worthy of support.

This isn’t about fixing everything overnight. It’s about creating small, sustainable ways to show up for yourself. Some days will still be hard. Some moments will still feel overwhelming. But piece by piece, step by step, you can find a way through.

You are not alone in this. And even when it feels unmanageable, you are still showing up. And that? That’s enough.

Redefining Productivity in Hard Seasons

So let’s talk about productivity. Because if you’re anything like me, when you’re struggling, you probably still expect yourself to perform at the same level as before.

But that’s not realistic. And honestly? It’s not healthy.

So what if, in this season, we defined productivity differently?

Instead of getting everything done, what if productivity meant:
✨ Prioritizing what actually matters
✨ Giving yourself permission to do less
✨ Listening to what your body and mind need
✨ Showing up imperfectly instead of not at all

Because here’s the truth: Even if all you did today was get through the day, that counts.

You are still moving forward, even when it feels slow.

And if you’re in a season like this, I just want you to know:
You are not your hardest days.
You are not failing.
And you are not alone.

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I want to end with this—

Maybe you aren’t struggling right now. Maybe you’ve never been on medication. Maybe you don’t even relate to this experience at all.

But someone in your life does.

And the hardest part of mental health struggles is that they’re invisible. So if this isn’t for you today, I hope you’ll save it for later. Or better yet? Share it with someone who needs to hear it.

And if you are in this season, I see you. You’re not alone. You’re not broken. And you will not feel like this forever.

We’re in this together, okay— I’ll see you next week right here on The Self Care Sisterhood Podcast. 🖤

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