7 Things Therapists Always Do During A Bad Mental Health Day

If you’re human, it’s simply impossible to go through life with no bad mental health days. Whether coping with a negative experience, dealing with a life change or just waking up in a low mood, not feeling 100% mentally or emotionally is just a part of life.

Exactly what a bad mental health day looks like will vary from person to person — some folks may feel scattered or stressed while others feel low energy and tired. No matter what one of those rough days feels like for you, it’s safe to say it’s unpleasant. And you certainly don’t want to do anything to make your hard day any worse.

Even therapists have these days ― and there are certain things they personally do to care for themselves when they happen. Read on for their advice:

1. They make sure their physical needs are met.

“I generally start by taking an inventory of where my physical needs are and if they’ve been met or not that day,” said Em Evans, a therapist and co-founder of The Understory Group in Pennsylvania.

This can mean making a literal list of physical needs, Evans said — “Did I take my medication? Am I drinking enough water? Have I gotten enough sleep? Have I eaten an appropriate amount of food for that point in the day? Have I moved my body in a way that makes me feel good?”

Evans added that a lot of times when she’s dealing with a bad mental health day, “I don’t notice that my physical needs have fallen behind and that can really perpetuate the cycle.” Meaning, if you’re not fueling your body with food, water and other necessities, you won’t be doing any favors for your mental (or physical) health.

2. They reschedule the things they don’t need to get done.

When you’re having a tough day, it’s a good idea not to put any additional pressure on