Here's how to figure it out...
These days, mental health conversations are everywhere: on TikTok, in group chats, and on posters around campus. That’s a good thing. It means it’s easier to talk about what you’re feeling and to ask for help when you need it.
But sometimes, that same awareness can make it harder to know what actually is an emotional or mental health issue, and what’s just part of everyday life.
We all struggle at times, no matter our stage or status in life. You might have a week where everything feels heavy: deadlines, friendship drama, family tension, and trying to function on poor sleep.
You might feel sad, low, frustrated, or just a bit...off. That doesn’t automatically mean you have a mental health problem. It might just mean you’re under pressure or dealing with something difficult and although it’s uncomfortable, it's also completely normal.
So, how do you tell the diffence between an everyday problem and something you might need support in managing?
Start by asking yourself:
Has this been going on for a long time, or is it more recent?
Are these thoughts and feelings affecting important areas of my life like sleep, motivation, appetite, or relationships?
Can I still do the things I need to do, even if I don’t feel great doing them?
Have I lost interest in everything over time, or am I just going through a rough patch?
If something’s been affecting you for a while, making it hard to function, or leaving you stuck with no way forward, that’s when it helps to speak to a therapist or someone you trust. It’s not whether the issue is “serious enough” - it’s whether having some support could make it easier to cope. If it feels too big to handle on your own, you don’t have to.
But not every uncomfortable feeling needs therapy.
As Dr. Lucy Foulkes points out, being too quick to label normal struggles as clinical issues can have unintended consequences. If you tell yourself “This is anxiety” every time you’re nervous, or “I’m depressed” whenever you're feeling sad, you risk seeing those labels as permanent parts of your identity - not just temporary experiences. And if others always accommodate your discomfort without helping you face it, you might miss out on developing your ability to cope.
Sometimes, the most useful response isn’t to avoid or rush to fix the feeling - it’s to move with it. You might need to take a break, talk it out with a friend, or just let the feeling be there without panic. Feeling overwhelmed, disappointed, or uncertain doesn’t mean something is wrong with you. It means there's something important going on that needs your attention, rather than avoiding it.
To get a sense of whether you can get through a tough time, it can help to pause and reflect:
Have I faced something like this before and made it through?
What did I do that helped last time?
Is there one small thing I can do now for myself, even if it feels hard?
Confidence isn’t the absence of anxiety or stress - it’s what grows when you do the difficult thing anyway. Sitting the exam, showing up to the event, or getting through the day can be stressful, but they can also bring satisfaction, growth, and even a sense of accomplishment.
Of course, some challenges do need professional support, and sometimes you really shouldn’t try to push through difficult experiences alone. But personal growth also involves learning when you can back yourself - even just a little - and discovering that discomfort doesn’t mean there's something wrong with you.
None of us gets a prize for going through everything alone, but it's important to know you’re also not fragile or weak for feeling overwhelmed. You’re still learning about yourself and figuring things out and, often, you have more inner strength than you realise.
The next time something hits you hard, take a moment. Check in with yourself. Ask: What am I feeling? What do I need? What am I capable of doing for myself right now?
You might be surprised by the answer, and if you feel like you need a bit more support and guidance, help is always available.
