By: Laiba Noor
Hey friends,
October 10 was World Mental Health Day, a reminder (and an invitation) to slow down, pause, and notice what’s going on inside. On the surface, life might look okay. We wake up, go about our routines, and smile. But beneath, there might be places in our hearts or minds that feel heavy, empty, or strained.
I want this post to feel like a conversation, not a lecture. A friend sitting across from you, answering with honesty, saying: you’re not alone.
Why this day matters
We live in a time when everything seems to move fast. Deadlines, expectations, social media, relationships, all these demand our attention. It’s easy to neglect the internal work. But mental health isn’t just about surviving; it’s about thriving or at least finding peace in the in-between days.
World Mental Health Day is more than a hashtag or awareness campaign. It’s an opportunity. An invitation to:
• Speak gently to yourself.
• Seek help without shame.
• Reach out to others.
• Make small changes that honor your emotional world.
It’s a permission slip, permission to rest, to step back, to feel and heal.
Recognizing the whispers before they become cries
I’ve found that life doesn’t often crash in one dramatic moment. It leaks. It seeps. A few missed nights of sleep. A few small irritations. A creeping apathy. These are the soft signals.
Here are some things to watch for:
• Fatigue that lingers even after rest.
• Losing interest in things you once loved.
• Feeling irritable without warning.
• Anxiety that mutates into dread.
• Difficulty focusing, or mind wandering constantly.
• Withdrawing from people you care about.
If you notice these in yourself or someone else, don’t rush past them. Sit with them. Ask: What’s happening right now? What needs tending?
Small acts of care that really matter
We don’t always need big solutions. Sometimes, small, consistent acts make the difference. Here’s what I try (and fail and try again) in my own life:
• Breathing breaks: Even 2 minutes of deep, slow breaths can reset your nervous system.
• Gentle movement: Walking, stretching, dancing, anything that moves your body with kindness.
• Digital boundaries: Limiting doom-scrolling; turning off notifications at set times.
• Journaling: Nothing fancy, just writing what’s inside, without judgment.
• Talking to someone: A friend, a counselor, someone safe.
• Asking for help: Sometimes “help” is just someone listening.
• Saying no: Protecting your space and energy.
• Creating small rituals: A warm drink, a short walk, reading a few pages.
These aren’t cures. They’re lifelines. They remind us: I matter. My mental state matters.
When you need more, reaching out is strength
There’s a myth that asking for help means you’ve failed. That’s untrue. In fact, reaching out is one of the bravest things we can do.
Therapists, support groups, helplines. These are tools, not signs of weakness. Sometimes, we can’t see ourselves clearly; we need someone else to help us untangle. If you’re in doubt: call someone you trust, even if just to say I’m not okay. That’s a start.
If you’re in Pakistan, or anywhere, there are local mental health organizations and helplines (you can Google “mental health helpline in [your city/country]”). If you need help finding one, I’m here. I can look it up and share.
For those standing beside someone struggling
If you know someone wrestling with mental health:
• Listen more than you speak.
• Avoid quick fixes (“just cheer up”).
• Show up, even in silence.
• Ask simple questions with care: “How are you, really?”
• Encourage professional help gently.
• Remind them they’re not a burden.
You don’t have to have all the answers. Your presence matters.
A closing note from me to you
In honor of World Mental Health Day, I want to leave you with kindness. Wherever you are in your journey. Whether in calm, in chaos, in trying, in healing. May you lean toward light. May you listen to your inner world. May you find someone to walk with you, even for a little while. May you give yourself permission to just be.
If this post resonates, share it. If it doesn’t, take from it what you need. And if you ever want to talk, whenever I’ll listen!
With light & care,
Laiba Noor.
Meet the Author:
This beautiful piece was written by Laiba Noor. Laiba is a hardworking Content Creator, Social Media Manager and Influencer Marketer who lives in Pakistan. If you enjoyed this post and would like to work with Laiba, you can reach her on LinkedIn or Instagram.
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