Is it normal to struggle with mental health?

Yes — struggling with mental health is very normal. Most people experience periods of feeling low, anxious, stressed, or overwhelmed at different points in their lives, particularly when circumstances change, uncertainty increases, or pressures build over time.

There are many reasons why mental health difficulties are so common. Some people describe mental health as existing on a spectrum, much like physical health, which naturally shifts over time. When it shifts, it doesn’t necessarily mean that something is “wrong” with you, but rather that something in your life feels too difficult or too much to manage right now.

Life itself can be demanding. It involves ongoing pressures such as work, relationships, and finances, as well as stressful or unexpected events that can arise without warning. Given this, it is understandable that at times things can feel overwhelming.

A helpful way to think about this is as a set of weighing scales. On one side is your mental health and emotional load, and on the other is your ability to cope. Different experiences and stressors can tip the balance in either direction. While we often hope that our ability to cope outweighs what we are carrying, the scale is constantly shifting and will not always feel balanced.

It is normal for life stressors to outweigh coping resources at times. However, it can be helpful to seek support when this imbalance persists, or when your usual coping strategies no longer feel effective.

This is especially important when difficulties begin to affect your day-to-day life, such as your sleep, motivation, concentration, relationships, or how you feel about yourself.