To think not everything is a crisis, sometimes you’re just having a down day?

[NotABrokenMachine]

I’ve never really thought of myself as an anxious or negative person. Life just has rhythms. Sometimes you’re up, sometimes you’re down. That’s not depression or failure, it’s just being human.

But it feels like we’ve reached a point where every dip is seen as a problem. You say you’re tired and someone asks if you’re burned out. You have a quiet week and it’s “are you okay?”, like you’re only meant to operate at 100% or not at all.

I don’t say this to minimise real struggles, I know mental health issues are real and serious. But I also think there’s value in normalising low moods without labelling them.

AIBU to feel like not everything needs to be fixed, some things just pass?

Someone asking if you are ok isn’t suggesting a crisis, it’s just human. The world has moved on and we don’t have to keep a stiff upper lip all the time
now. It’s great you are so resilient but it’s best to just not judge how others cope as it helps nobody.

I think you’re right. As humans we are capable of experiencing a full spectrum of emotions for a reason. There are situations where feeling sadness, anger and anxiety (to name a few) are normal responses. We need to learn to tolerate a range of feelings and ride them out. Obviously it is wise to monitor when the feelings go beyond a normal response and then seek help but sometimes we are to quick to jump to an anxiety disorder when actually someone is anxious in an appropriate context. Burn out is real but a few really tired days are not burn out. Life throws us highs and lows and we need to accept and not try to avoid hard emotions.

I have read the OP differently to you. I don’t see it as judging anyone. OP acknowledges mental health issues and hard times. I think she’s just zooming out and reflecting on a trend in society pathologise and label very quickly. I don’t think she’s saying we shouldn’t be human and care and asking someone’s okay.

She is judging how people are handling and labelling these things… that’s the point of the thread really. There was nothing wrong with my reply, it’s just a different opinion to yours

@ToKittyornottoKitty respectfully, I disagree. It’s obviously touched a nerve for you. I just don’t see it as judging - just being balanced .

Fully agree with you op. Interested to know what age bracket you're in.

It’s not touched a nerve, as previously explained, I just have a different opinion to you.

I see it the same way as you, as in the OP is just being balanced.

I think particularly due to social media where there's so much focus on anxiety and mental health issues etc, some people forget that a low mood is often just that - a low mood that'll often pick up again.