Dear Besties, Why Am I Not Feeling Well Today?

When we think of health, our minds always pinpoint our physical health. And can you blame us? We’re still in a pandemic! All everyone is thinking about is antibacterial soaps, negative swabs, daily vitamins, and stalking up on the paracetamol. 

But, being physically healthy doesn’t always mean you’re “feeling well.” You could be at the peak of your physical health—chowing down on veggies all day and waking up at 7 AM for a morning jog—while still feeling terrible on the inside. 

So, what does it mean to really feel “well”? And what do you do when you’re not? Let’s get into it!

How does “not feeling well” manifest?

An important thing to remember is that your mind and body aren’t separate entities. It’s all interconnected in one person. And that’s the point of wellness! Finding balance and harmony between all your needs as a human being. If you’re coming down with a fever, you tend to be weak-spirited and unmotivated. Vice versa, if you’re in a lousy spot in your life, you tend to feel physically weakened and might even be bedridden.

Of course, it doesn’t mean that being happy will suddenly cure life-threatening diseases! Although, there have been studies that have said it prolongs life spans. But, generally, struggling mentally and emotionally can negatively manifest physically because your body is reacting to what’s happening.

Your body responds to the way you think, feel, and act. It tries its best to cope with the situation and tells us when something isn’t right. Remember how your brain sends signals to the rest of your functions? This mind/body connection goes hand-in-hand! After all, when you’re in a tough spot, aren’t you less likely to spend time taking care of yourself as well as you should? 

What are the other reasons why I’m not feeling well?

So, what does it mean to not feel well? From what we learned, not feeling well speaks of all the functions in a person. But, another thing to learn from it: It’s a case-to-case basis. Any sort of overall discomfort, weakness, or stress is what constitutes “not feeling well,” no matter where it came from.

But, why does it happen? Many reasons can come from not feeling well. Even in physical health, it’s never really a simple cause and effect to your condition. It’s a little more multifaceted than that! A single event doesn’t necessarily lead you to not feel well. And sometimes, it’s not always a negative situation. Even supposed “good” changes can be as stressful because they came as unwanted or sudden major changes to your day-to-day life. Anything that causes strong emotions can have a huge impact on you, even more than you expected!

Typically “bad” situations that can cause a huge sense of sadness and anxiety, include:

• Being laid off from a job 
• Feeling lonely or insecure
• Having to stop school
• Getting a bad grade on a test
• Dealing with the death of a loved one
• Having an argument with a friend
• Feeling pressured from school
• Being compared to someone else
• Suffering from an illness or injury

Meanwhile, the “good” changes that seem like it would make you happy but also become stressful, include:

• Getting a job promotion or a new job
• Taking a new leadership role
• Starting new college classes
• Studying or working abroad
• Graduating from high school
• Getting into a new relationship
• Going on an academic break

And even with the above mentioned situation, you don’t need an exact, specific reason for feeling the way you do! Maybe it’s a collective sense of dread from the pandemic, being stuck in a monotonous routine, or nerves for an unexpected future. It can all be everything at once, while also being “presumably” nothing at all.

Is it normal to not feel well even though I’m not sick?

The best way to differentiate between being sick and not feeling well is that sickness falls under not feeling well. Typically, sickness refers to physical symptoms like colds, fevers, body aches, fatigue, and so on. But, when it comes to not feeling well, it’s such a broad term. So, it’s normal to feel unwell but not necessarily be physically sick. 

Your temperature on a thermometer doesn’t always dictate your well-being. At the same time, not getting a proper diagnosis yet doesn’t mean you are automatically well and okay. If you feel something wrong within yourself and it’s been bothering you daily, then chances are, you are NOT feeling well. Our mind and bodies are usually there to tell us when something is up, so we need to listen and pay attention. Avoid brushing things off, especially when it comes to things about yourself. And from there, get help from other people who can help you process what you’re going through—allow them to guide you towards wellness. Whether you get help from licensed medical professionals, or ask advice from loved ones, it’s always okay to ask for help!

It’s not always easy to pinpoint why you might not be feeling right or get a grip on what’s been bothering you. But, that’s okay! Whether it hits you slowly or right away, you have the power to ask for help and do something about it.

What do I do when I’m not feeling well?

To rephrase the question, “What do I do when I’m not alright?” That’s a question everybody has asked at one point in their lives. To take care of yourself, you have to know how to take care of yourself. But, how can you do that? Here are a few steps you can take:

• Take a break. Sometimes, what you need is to walk away from your major sources of stress. You’ve already spent so much time worrying about whatever it is you’re going through; it’s time to step back to allow yourself to think of other things. You could go for a walk, get some rest, or do any other activity. What matters is that you get to recharge your wellness batteries when they’re feeling a bit low.

• Talk to someone. It’s through others that we find out more about ourselves. When you are stuck in a negative mindset, a few minutes of talking to a good friend can be enough to put you in a better state of mind. They’ll listen to you, support you, give you advice, and even present you with words of encouragement you’ve been hoping to hear. And if you need that extra step, talking to a therapist or a licensed professional is also a route you can take on. Remember: You don’t need a big reason to get the help you need.

• Reflect on what makes you happy. It’s now time to reflect on what you want and need at the moment. Don’t think about the pretenses, don’t overthink the outcomes, and don’t think about other people. Focus on yourself and figure out what makes you happy in life. You can even write it down in a gratitude journal if you want. Through that, you can think about how you can achieve that happiness and what steps you should take to make changes in your life. Maybe it’s letting go of toxic responsibilities, going away for a while, or getting a gap year/quitting a job. 

• Make plans or goals. It’s easy to get stuck and feel hopeless for the future when there’s nothing to look forward to. So, give yourself something to look forward to! It doesn’t have to be concrete plans, but anything that’s simple and coincides with your little pockets of joy. Simple ways to feel better can range from baking cookies, going on that hike, volunteering for a community, or coloring your hair red! 

These are only a few of the many steps you can take to feel better. While these may sound a bit trivial, they can also have a significant effect on your mood—as long as you keep working on it! Practicing emotional and mental wellness is a lifelong journey we all take on. What’s important is you figure out what works for you!

#SunLifePartnerforLife #SunLifePartnerinHealth