You don’t have to be living some tragic, dramatic life for your feelings to be valid. Even in a totally “normal” house—two parents, three meals a day, and a roof that doesn’t leak—you can still feel overwhelmed. And guess what? That doesn’t make you spoiled, ungrateful, or “too sensitive.” It makes you human. Especially a teenage human, which is basically like being a phone on 1% battery all the time—but everyone still expects you to work at full speed.But here’s what I’ve learned, and what I remind myself when my brain feels like it’s screaming into a pillow 24/7: you’re allowed to feel everything—but you don’t have to believe everything your feelings tell you.That voice in your head that says, “You’re not good enough”? Liar.The one that says, “Everyone’s got it together but me”? Total nonsense.The one whispering, “You’ll feel like this forever”? Yeah, that one’s just being dramatic.Feelings are like weather. Some days are sunny, and some days feel like an emotional thunderstorm. But storms pass. They always do. And your job isn’t to stop the storm, it’s to build shelter, wait it out, and know that clear skies are coming.So how do you do that?Start small. Like, really small.Drink some water. Eat something with actual nutrients. Take a shower, even if your soul feels like a soggy sock. Trust me, there’s something powerful about washing your face and scrubbing the sadness off with a peppermint face wash. These tiny actions don’t seem like much, but they’re quiet ways of saying, “I care about myself, even when it’s hard.”Name what you’re feeling.Not for anyone else—just for you. Sometimes I literally say out loud, “Okay, I’m overwhelmed,” or “I’m sad, and I don’t know why, and that’s okay.” It sounds weird, but giving your feelings a name makes them feel a little less like monsters and a little more like something you can face.Do one thing that brings you back to yourself.That might be drawing, or dancing in your room like a maniac, or lying under a blanket and listening to a playlist that makes you feel seen. It doesn’t have to be productive. It just has to be you. When life feels too loud, doing one tiny thing you love—even for five minutes—is like pressing the reset button on your brain.Talk to someone. Anyone.Not everyone’s ready to open up to a therapist (though they’re actually superheroes in disguise). But find one person you trust—a friend, an older sibling, a chill adult—and just say, “Hey, can we talk? I’m not feeling great.” You don’t have to explain it perfectly. You just have to start. You’d be surprised how much lighter things feel once you stop carrying them alone.And hey—if you’re not ready to talk yet, that’s okay too. You’re allowed to move at your own pace. There’s no mental health Olympics. No gold medal for suffering quietly.Write it down.Not for a grade, not for likes—just for you. Dump everything out like you’re emptying your backpack after a long day. No structure, no grammar rules, just pure, unfiltered thoughts. Sometimes you won’t even know what you’re feeling until you see it in your own handwriting.Move your body.Not for weight loss. Not for social media aesthetics. Just because it helps your brain shake the fog off. Go for a walk. Do some random stretches. Dance in your room to a song that makes you feel like the main character. Your body and your mind are connected—and sometimes, you have to move one to help the other breathe.Remind yourself: You don’t need to have it all figured out.You're not behind. You're not failing. You're growing. And growing is messy, painful, awkward, and uncomfortable—but it’s also beautiful. Think about it: plants break through the dirt before they bloom. You’re in your dirt phase. The bloom is coming.You might not see progress every day. That’s okay. Some days you’re just surviving. But even surviving is a form of strength. You’re not weak for needing help, or for crying, or for taking breaks. You’re strong because you keep showing up, even when it feels impossible.And here’s the thing nobody tells you enough: You matter.Even if you feel invisible. Even if your brain tells you otherwise.You. Matter. Your thoughts matter. Your feelings matter.Your existence is not a mistake. You’re not “too much.” You’re not “not enough.”You are exactly the right amount of everything you’re meant to be.You don’t have to hustle for worth. You don’t have to earn rest.You’re allowed to take up space. To say no. To change your mind.You’re allowed to outgrow things, people, and versions of yourself.And if no one’s told you this lately:You’re not broken. You’re becoming.So breathe. Even if it feels silly.Take one deep breath.Then another.And another.You’ve got this.Even if it doesn’t feel like it today—you are going to be okay.Not because everything will magically fix itself, but because you are learning how to krep going. How to care for yourself. How to get back up.And that? That’s everything.you're not alone❤️