Some days feel like high tide. Everything arrives at once. Work, family, health, money, the small worries and the big ones, all rising together until there is very little room left to breathe.
When we are in the middle of it, it can feel permanent. The mind tells us this is simply how things are now, and that they will stay this way. That is one of the hardest parts of difficult times. Not only the weight itself, but the sense that it will never lift.
Anyone who has watched the sea knows something different. The tide has never stayed high. It turns, often slowly and almost without us noticing, and the shore appears again.
That doesn't make high tide any easier while we are in it. But it can change how we treat ourselves. Instead of asking why we are not coping better, we can ask what would help us stay steady until the water begins to fall. Sometimes that is rest. Sometimes it is talking to someone. Sometimes it is lowering the bar for a while and simply getting through the day.
In my training I am learning how much it matters to meet people where they are, rather than where we think they should be. That applies to how we treat ourselves too.
If today feels like high tide, be gentle with yourself while you wait for it to turn.
These reflections are general thoughts written during my training. They are not counselling or professional advice. If you are struggling, please speak to your GP or one of the services below.