Ever been in a funk that you can’t get out of? You know, one of those days where you feel like nothing matters, the world is falling apart around you, and all you want to do is crawl into a dark hole and disappear for a day, a week, a month, forever?

Generally, the feeling doesn’t last too long but when it does, it’s hard not to wonder whether something sinister is at bay. Depression and anxiety are all too common in today’s society and the growing number of individuals on pills is a concern.

But I’m not here to get you down any further. In most cases there is something you can do, as it’s only you who’s in control of your emotions. It’s easy to lay the blame elsewhere but that’s not going to make you feel any better, at least not in the long term.

It’s ok to feel like shit sometimes.

No one is ever 100% happy, 100% of the time.

Humans do not work that way. We have numerous emotions that we go through in a certain day. Expecting to be constantly chirpy and happy and grateful is just asking the impossible.

You’re allowed to feel like crap.

We have good days and we have bad days. It’s unfortunate that society doesn’t let us experience our bad days as much as it praises our good days.

We constantly hear and see people’s successes, big and small, but rarely do they advertise their failures. It’s tough. Social media has made it even tougher.

We have become celebrities in our little worlds. Self-obsessed, craving for Facebook likes and Instagram follows. We don’t want to miss out on all the wonderful things out there.

But life doesn’t work that day.

Even the supermodel bestie posting cocktail hour in Tahiti has her bad days. You’re just seeing one of the good ones. But she’s not saying how she probably won’t drink it because of the calories. Or that she’s flown economy with a bratty-kicking toddler in the seat behind her. Or that her parents separated when she was a kid and she was teased at school for being lanky. Or the fact that she hates herself for something she did a decade ago. Or maybe she does have it all perfectly sorted. Either way, it ain’t any of your business.

We don’t see the background. We don’t see the bottom of the iceberg. We don’t see the full picture of anyone these days. All we get are tidbits, the pieces that people want you to see, and that’s generally showing a biased perspective.   

Life’s a journey that sometimes gets hit with a tornado. You go through elation to depression to a happy medium. And while that might seem like you’re bipolar (please see your doctor if you’re worried about your moods), if these are just fleeting moments you’re going to be ok.

We all get shit days where the only thing that sounds appealing is getting into your comfiest yoga pants and jumper, wrapping yourself up in a blanket, and putting reruns of Revenge while you eat a block of dark chocolate and drink a bottle of shiraz (hey antioxidants anyone!).

You’re allowed to take a day off from trying to lead a perfect life. There’s no such thing anyway. And the harder you try to attain it, the more unhappy you’ll become.

Enjoy the good, embrace the bad. Live the life that you want and forget about everything else. There’s no right or wrong way if you follow your own path. Embrace what’s yours and realise that even amongst the shit, you can find your happiness.

Or become a writer.

Writing is therapeutic. You don’t even need to show your words to anyone. Just write and delete if need be. Or print the written pages and burn them for dramatic impact. You might surprise yourself and discover a hidden writing talent within. Maybe you’ll enjoy sharing your words with others and start a blog. Maybe you’ll do it all, or do nothing at all.

Writing is a healthy form of expression. The information age has allowed anyone with internet access to have a voice. But who’s going to hear you? It all comes down to how far your reach can go, and in an era where the world wide web is everywhere, your reach is infinite.

But if you write publicly be prepared to be ridiculed and abused. It’s bound to happen sooner or later. You’ll get upset. It’s inevitable. It’s also fine. Be upset, take a few breathes and a moment to recollect your thoughts.  Move on. Don’t let trolls deter you from achieving your goals nor should you let them make you feel like shit.

But not all writing has to be made public. Sometimes a moment of journaling and reflection can shift your perspective. You don’t have to bare your soul, just hit delete. You’ll feel better either way.

Let writing help you get out of the funk. It’ll help you shift gears and accelerate your personal and professional growth.

In the end you are going to feel like shit sometimes. Others will make you feel that way too.

Feel it, move on. Even that shall pass.

The worst thing you can do is take out your funk publicly. You might want to blog about it, vent on social media, or argue your point in the comments thread but in the end you’re not doing yourself any favours other than adding fuel to the fire and one day it could come back to bite you on the backside.

How do you deal with your tough days? Have you ever used writing to help you get through tough times?