Toward the end of the summer, I began taking an antidepressant for my Generalized Anxiety Disorder and accompanying depression.

The last few months have reminded me that I made a positive decision.

I was lucky not to experience any major side effects (just some temporarily increased anxiety and slight insomnia in the beginning), and I’ve noticed I am much more in control of my emotions. I’m not as easily agitated, things at home and in the office don’t stress me out like they used to, and my marriage is stronger (not that it wasn’t before, but now it’s even better).

Overall, I’ve been feeling really good.

But then…

But then the other day, I just felt sad.

I woke up in a decent mood (for a Monday!), but as I scrambled to avoid being late for work (why do I always do this?!), I just felt overtaken by a funk.

And that funk managed to grab hold of me throughout the work day. I even let it affect some of my decisions at work.

Don't let a funk define you. #anxiety #depression #mentalhealth
Click To Tweet

Of course, my first thought was “OH MY GOD WHY IS MY MEDICINE NO LONGER WORKING?!!”

I sulked and ate my feelings in Christmas candy and felt like I was moving backward rather than forward.

But then I thought “I haven’t written about this on the blog in a while” (sad but true).

And, so, here I am doing what I (debatably) do best—writing it out.

A funk isn’t forever. It is a temporary mood or feeling that may or may not be related to any external stimuli.

Apart from a little sleep-deprivation (thank you, two-year-old), my life is pretty much the same.

I’m still eating fairly well, I’m still exercising when I feel like it, I’m still blogging when I have time, I’m still enjoying date nights with Mark (though not as often as we need them), and I really have no other reason to be in a funk except for the sheer fact that I’m human.

Having bad days just means you're human... #TOL #mentalhealth
Click To Tweet

Humans have good days and humans have bad days. Whether we’re feeling up or down, no single day defines us.

Even the healthiest person becomes angry or sad or disheartened.

And, so, I remind myself that it will pass.

The crazy thing? I’m already feeling better. I went home, hugged my Bazooka, played fetch with Iggy, chatted with Mark, and mentioned how I was in a weird funk.

I ate a filling dinner, did some blog work, drank my favorite flavor of kombucha (lavender!), got a little frustrated with the computer when I couldn’t find an e-mail that I had purposely archived so I would be able to find it later (story of my life), and thought about some things that had been bugging me during the day before going to bed.

Although I tossed and turned a little while before falling asleep, I woke up the next day refreshed and ready to move on.

To move on to another day, with another set of circumstances, experiences, and feelings.

And that is why I know my medication and personal coping mechanisms are effective. And that much of what I feel—or choose to feel—is in my control.

News flash: it’s ok to feel sad sometimes! #mentalhealth #anxiety #depression
Click To Tweet

[linking up for thinking out loud]

So tell me…

• When was the last time you were in a funk?
• How do you handle negative emotions?

The post It’s OK To Feel Sad Sometimes… appeared first on A Cup of Catherine.