01/09/2026
When we saw this comic, its simplicity stood out. It made us think about how often people underestimate the extent to which feeling overwhelmed, feeling down, or feeling anxious is actually normative. Not every reaction to distress is maladaptive or abnormal.
If someone close to you passes away and you feel sad, upset, or notice those feelings lingering longer than you expected, that can be entirely normative. You may benefit from talking with someone to help process those emotions, but sadness itself is not a problem. It can come in waves. The same is true for anxiety, worry, and feeling overwhelmed. What often matters more than the feeling itself is how itâs managed and whether it becomes a persistent pattern. If distress is constant, intense, frequent, and long-lasting, that may be a sign something more is going on and worth paying attention to.
We want to normalize that not everything we think or feel will be pleasant. Feeling distressed does not mean something is âwrongâ with you. At the same time, there is always space to seek support, whether thatâs talking with a therapist or reaching out to trusted friends and family. Itâs okay to not be okay, and itâs also okay to ask for help.
