š World Mental Health Day | October 10, 2026
Because taking care of your mental health isnāt a luxury. Itās part of taking care of yourself.
š Dear Diary,
Today is World Mental Health Day, and while social media will undoubtedly be filled with inspirational quotes, encouraging messages, and reminders that itās okay not to be okay, I want to talk about something that doesnāt always make it into those beautifully designed awareness graphics.
The emotional exhaustion of being the person everyone thinks is strong.
You know that person.
The one who always has a joke ready.
The one who shows up, gets things done, handles business, and somehow manages to keep smiling even when life is throwing everything but the kitchen sink at them.
The one who responds, āIām fine,ā because explaining why theyāre not fine would require a PowerPoint presentation, supporting documentation, and possibly a three-hour therapy session. š
Yeah. That person.
Sometimes, that person is me.
And if Iām being completely transparent, being strong can be downright exhausting.
Because hereās something Iāve learned while navigating life with Crohnās Disease and Myasthenia Gravis (MG):
Just because someone carries their struggles gracefully doesnāt mean what theyāre carrying isnāt heavy.
And sometimes, the heaviest things we carry have absolutely nothing to do with our physical health.
š¦ The Weight Nobody Sees
Living with chronic illness has taught me a lot about physical limitations.
But what doesnāt get discussed nearly enough is the emotional weight that comes with those limitations.
The constant medical appointments.
The medications.
The treatments.
The insurance battles.
The financial responsibilities that donāt disappear just because youāre sick.
And the uncertainty of waking up wondering which version of your body youāre going to get today.
Will Crohnās cooperate?
Will MG decide sheās feeling dramatic?
Or will both of my autoimmune roommates decide weāre having another emergency household meeting? šš
Living with Crohnās and MG is like sharing an apartment with two roommates who donāt pay rent, donāt respect boundaries, and apparently never received the memo about quiet hours.
And donāt even get me started on their complete disregard for my personal schedule!
But hereās what we donāt talk about enough.
Sometimes, their constant chaos doesnāt just exhaust my body.
It exhausts my mind.
Because while Iām managing symptoms, scheduling appointments, dealing with insurance companies, maintaining a career, nurturing relationships, and attempting to enjoy life, thereās another responsibility that doesnāt always receive the attention it deserves.
My mental health.
And apparently, managing two autoimmune diseases wasnāt enough extracurricular activity. Now I have to make sure my emotional well-being doesnāt pack a bag and move out, too. š
But seriously.
There are days when I can laugh about my circumstances.
And there are days when absolutely nothing about them feels funny.
Both experiences are valid.
š āBeing physically exhausted and being emotionally exhausted are two different things. Sometimes, weāre unfortunate enough to experience both at the same time.ā
š When āIām Fineā Becomes a Habit
One thing Iāve noticed about myself is how easily I default to saying, āIām fine.ā
Sometimes I really am.
Other times?
Well, letās just say āfineā is doing a whole lot of heavy lifting.
I think many of us have become so accustomed to pushing through lifeās challenges that we forget weāre allowed to acknowledge when something hurts.
And Iām not just talking about physical pain.
Iām talking about disappointment.
Frustration.
Loneliness.
Fear.
Uncertainty.
And the grief that sometimes comes with watching your life change in ways you never anticipated.
There are moments when I miss the version of myself who didnāt have to calculate energy levels before making plans.
The version who didnāt have to consider whether a simple outing might leave me exhausted.
The version who didnāt have to think about medications, treatments, breathing difficulties, or whether my body would cooperate long enough for me to enjoy something I had been looking forward to.
The version who could take breathing for granted.
And while Iāve learned to appreciate the woman I am becoming, that doesnāt mean I never grieve the woman I used to be.
You can love the life youāre building while still mourning parts of the life you had.
You can be grateful and frustrated.
Hopeful and afraid.
Happy and overwhelmed.
Strong and vulnerable.
One emotion doesnāt invalidate another.
And acknowledging those emotions doesnāt mean youāve given up.
It means youāre human.
š āHealing emotionally doesnāt mean pretending the difficult parts of your journey never happened. Sometimes, healing begins with admitting they still hurt.ā
š» Being the Funny One Doesnāt Mean Everything Is Funny
If youāve followed my journey for any length of time, you already know humor is one of my favorite coping mechanisms.
I joke about my autoimmune roommates.
I laugh about the ridiculous situations my body puts me in.
And occasionally, I turn what probably should have been a complete emotional meltdown into a story that has everybody laughing.
Because sometimes, laughter is the only thing standing between me and losing my ever-loving mind. š
But hereās something I wish more people understood.
Just because someone can laugh about their struggles doesnāt mean those struggles arenāt affecting them.
Sometimes humor is how we process pain.
Sometimes itās how we make an uncomfortable situation easier to discuss.
And sometimes itās simply how we survive another day.
That doesnāt mean we donāt need support.
It doesnāt mean we arenāt scared.
And it certainly doesnāt mean we have everything figured out.
Iāve learned that the people who make everyone else laugh sometimes need someone to ask how theyāre doing.
And not just the polite, conversational version of āHow are you?ā
I mean genuinely asking.
Then sticking around long enough to hear the answer.
Even when the answer isnāt positive.
Even when thereās nothing you can do to fix the situation.
Because sometimes, we donāt need someone to solve our problems.
We just need someone willing to sit with us while we navigate them.
š¦ The Pressure of Being Strong
If I had a dollar for every time someone told me how strong I am, I might finally have enough money to pay some of these ridiculous medical bills. šš
āYouāre so strong.ā
āYouāre such an inspiration.ā
āI donāt know how you do it.ā
And donāt misunderstand me.
I know these comments usually come from a place of love and admiration.
I appreciate that.
But sometimes, being labeled the strong one comes with expectations nobody realizes theyāre placing on you.
People become accustomed to seeing you handle everything.
They assume youāll figure it out.
They expect you to bounce back.
And because youāve managed difficult situations before, they sometimes forget that those situations may have taken an emotional toll.
But strength isnāt an unlimited resource.
Even the strongest people get tired.
And even the person who seems to have everything under control may occasionally need someone else to take the wheel.
There are days when I donāt want to be inspirational.
I donāt want to be an example of perseverance.
I donāt want to turn another difficult experience into a motivational lesson.
Sometimes, I just want to exist without having to overcome something.
And you know what?
That should be okay, too.
š āBeing strong doesnāt mean I never struggle. It means Iāve learned to keep living while acknowledging that some days are harder than others.ā
Sometimes, strength looks like getting out of bed.
Sometimes, it looks like attending another medical appointment.
Sometimes, it looks like asking for help.
And sometimes?
Strength looks like deciding that whatever isnāt getting done today can wait until tomorrow.
The world will survive.
Trust me. Iāve checked. š
š Chronic Illness and Mental Health: The Conversation We Need to Have
Hereās where I want to shift from my personal experiences to something that deserves greater awareness.
Chronic illness and mental health are connected, but they are not the same thing.
Living with an autoimmune disease does not automatically mean someone has a mental health disorder.
However, managing a chronic condition can create emotional challenges that affect mental well-being.
And those challenges deserve attention.
š¦ The Emotional Impact of Chronic Illness
People living with chronic illnesses may experience:
š Anxiety and uncertainty: Worrying about symptoms, disease progression, future complications, or when the next flare might occur.
š Depression or persistent sadness: Some individuals experience depression associated with the challenges of managing chronic illness, changes in independence, or limitations on everyday activities.
š Emotional exhaustion: Constantly managing medical needs, appointments, treatments, medications, and insurance issues can become mentally draining.
š Social isolation: Unpredictable symptoms, fatigue, and physical limitations can make maintaining relationships and participating in activities more difficult.
š Grief and loss: Adjusting to changes in physical abilities, independence, routines, and personal expectations can involve a genuine grieving process.
š Frustration and helplessness: Feeling unheard, misunderstood, or dismissed by othersāincluding healthcare professionalsācan contribute to emotional distress.
And hereās something important.
Experiencing emotional distress does not automatically mean someone has a mental health disorder.
But persistent sadness, anxiety, hopelessness, or emotional distress that interferes with everyday life should not be ignored.
Professional mental health support can be an important part of managing chronic illness.
Just as we seek treatment for physical symptoms, we deserve support when our emotional well-being is suffering.
Because mental health isnāt separate from our overall health.
Itās part of it.
š¦ Invisible Illness, Invisible Emotions
One of the most important messages in todayās World Mental Health Day reminder is:
āYou never truly know what someone is carrying or going through.ā
And if you live with an invisible illness, you probably understand that statement on a deeply personal level.
People see what we allow them to see.
They see us working.
Laughing.
Traveling.
Attending family gatherings.
Posting pictures.
Enjoying life.
And sometimes, they assume that because we look okay, we must feel okay.
But appearances donāt tell the whole story.
Someone can be smiling in a photograph while struggling with pain.
Someone can be laughing with friends while privately worrying about their health.
Someone can be successful professionally while feeling emotionally overwhelmed.
And someone can appear perfectly fine while carrying challenges nobody else knows exist.
Thatās why compassion matters.
Not just on World Mental Health Day.
Every single day.
We need to stop assuming that someoneās ability to function means they arenāt struggling.
We need to stop measuring another personās suffering by how visible it is.
And we need to remember that not everyone feels comfortable sharing what theyāre experiencing.
Some people are private.
Some are afraid of being judged.
Some donāt want to burden others.
And some have spent so much time being the person everyone depends on that they donāt know how to ask for support themselves.
š āJust because you cannot see someoneās pain doesnāt mean it isnāt real. And just because they arenāt talking about it doesnāt mean they arenāt carrying it.ā
A little patience can make a difference.
A little kindness can make a difference.
And sometimes, simply reminding someone that they donāt have to face everything alone can mean more than we realize.
š» Learning to Give Myself the Same Grace I Give Everyone Else
Now, hereās where I have to practice what Iām preaching.
Because I can encourage someone else to rest.
I can remind someone else that their feelings matter.
I can tell someone else they donāt have to carry everything alone.
But when it comes to extending that same compassion to myself?
Wellā¦
Apparently, thatās a work in progress. š
Iāve spent much of my life being independent, responsible, and determined to figure things out.
And while those qualities have served me well, Iāve also learned that constantly pushing through isnāt always the healthiest response.
Sometimes, I need to acknowledge that Iām tired.
Not just physically.
Emotionally.
Mentally.
Completely.
And instead of criticizing myself for not accomplishing everything I planned, Iām learning to recognize that rest is not a reward for productivity.
Itās a necessity.
Iām learning that boundaries arenāt selfish.
That asking for help isnāt weakness.
And that I donāt have to justify taking care of myself.
Because hereās something we donāt say often enough:
š You do not have to reach your breaking point before you deserve support.
You donāt have to wait until youāre completely overwhelmed.
You donāt have to prove that your struggles are serious enough.
And you certainly donāt have to compare your circumstances to someone elseās to determine whether your feelings are valid.
Your emotional well-being matters now.
Not just when everything becomes unbearable.
And that is something Iām continuing to remind myself.
š Itās Okay Not to Be Okay ā But You Donāt Have to Stay There Alone
I love the message behind World Mental Health Day.
Itās okay not to be okay.
But I think we need to take that message one step further.
Itās okay to admit youāre struggling.
Itās okay to acknowledge that something is affecting you emotionally.
And itās okay to seek help.
Whether that support comes from trusted friends, family members, support groups, counselors, therapists, or other qualified mental health professionals, you deserve access to people and resources that can help.
And if someone trusts you enough to share what theyāre experiencing, please remember:
You donāt always need the perfect response.
You donāt need to compare their situation to someone elseās.
You donāt need to remind them that things could be worse.
And you donāt need to immediately offer a solution.
Sometimes, the most meaningful response is simply:
āIām here. Iām listening. And you donāt have to go through this alone.ā
Because not every struggle needs advice.
Sometimes, it needs understanding.
Sometimes, it needs compassion.
And sometimes, it simply needs a safe place to exist without judgment.
šµ Music Playingā¦
š¶ āRise Upā ā Andra Day
Thereās something powerful about this song.
It speaks to perseverance, compassion, and finding the courage to continue when life becomes difficult.
But as I listen to it today, Iām reminded that rising up doesnāt always mean pushing harder.
Sometimes, rising up means recognizing that you need support.
Sometimes, it means giving yourself permission to rest.
And sometimes, it means choosing to care for your emotional well-being with the same determination you give everything else in your life.
Because resilience isnāt about pretending nothing hurts.
Itās about acknowledging the pain while allowing yourself the compassion and support you deserve.
š Reflection Corner
Today, I want you to think about something.
Not your responsibilities.
Not your to-do list.
Not what everyone else needs from you.
You.
š When was the last time you checked on yourself emotionally instead of simply asking whether you were physically okay?
š Have you been giving yourself permission to acknowledge the difficult emotions that come with your circumstances?
š Are you extending yourself the same patience, understanding, and compassion you so freely give everyone else?
š Have you been so focused on surviving that youāve forgotten to make room for the things that bring you joy?
And perhaps most importantlyā¦
If someone you loved were experiencing everything youāre experiencing, would you expect them to handle it all alone?
If the answer is no, why are you expecting that of yourself?
Thatās something worth thinking about.
š A Gentle Reminder for World Mental Health Day
Dear Diary,
If thereās one thing I hope people take away from todayās entry, itās this:
Your mental health deserves attention even when your physical health demands so much of it.
You are allowed to have difficult days.
You are allowed to feel frustrated, overwhelmed, or uncertain.
You are allowed to grieve the things that have changed.
You are allowed to laugh one moment and cry the next.
You are allowed to set boundaries.
And you are allowed to prioritize your emotional well-being without feeling guilty.
You donāt have to earn compassion by reaching your breaking point.
You donāt have to prove your strength by suffering in silence.
And you donāt have to pretend everything is okay simply because other people are more comfortable when you do.
As for me?
Iāll probably continue cracking jokes about Crohnās and MG.
Iāll continue finding humor in situations that probably arenāt funny.
Iāll continue advocating, learning, growing, and doing my best to navigate this unpredictable journey.
But Iām also learning that taking care of Kia means more than managing medications, treatments, symptoms, and medical appointments.
It means checking in with myself.
Acknowledging my emotions.
Recognizing when I need support.
And remembering that I deserve the same compassion I encourage everyone else to show themselves.
Because while my body may be fighting battles I never asked for, my mind deserves moments of peace.
And so does yours.
So today, on World Mental Health Day, please remember:
š Your mental health matters.
š Your physical health matters.
š Your feelings are valid.
š You donāt have to face everything alone.
And most importantlyā¦
š YOU MATTER. š
Not because of what you accomplish.
Not because of how strong you appear.
Not because of how much you do for everyone else.
You matter simply because you exist.
And that has always been enough.
š¬ Letās Talk About It
Mental health conversations shouldnāt happen only once a year.
They should be part of how we care for ourselves and one another every day.
Iād love to hear from you:
š How do you protect your mental health when life becomes overwhelming?
š If youāre living with chronic illness, what emotional challenges do you wish more people understood?
š Whatās one thing youāve learned about giving yourself grace?
Share your thoughts in the comments.
Your experiences may be exactly what someone else needs to hear today.
And remember, you never know who might find comfort in knowing they arenāt alone.
š Until Next Timeā¦
Living with chronic illness isnāt just about managing symptoms, medications, and treatments. Itās about learning to care for every part of yourselfāincluding the parts nobody else can see.
Some days will be easier than others. Some days will require more patience, understanding, and grace.
And thatās okay.
Because living with chronic illness is not just about surviving the difficult days. Itās about remembering that we deserve emotional well-being, meaningful connections, joy, and peace along the way.
One day at a time.
One challenge at a time.
One small act of self-compassion at a time.
And when necessary?
One autoimmune roommate eviction notice at a time. šš
Living with one autoimmune disease is challenging. Living with two requires resilience. Welcome to The Dual Diagnosis Diaries, where I share the realities of navigating life with Crohnās Disease and Myasthenia Gravisāone day, one treatment, and one lesson at a time.
With love, laughter, and a whole lot of purple, š
Kia Lorice
Founder ā¢ Author ā¢ Advocate ā¢ Future Wellness Coach
The Dual Diagnosis Diaries
š thedualdiagnosisdiaries.com
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