Even if you have mental health challenges, you can do what you have to do. It is not impossible. Work and contributing to finances really helped me when I was in a bad spot!

I was at a point where I was doing an intensive outpatient program for mental health but I still HAD to work the rest of the week so that I would not be, you know, homeless.

But, I found that because I had to get up mornings to work, take care of my pets, and participate in a community group, doing one thing led to another thing. I mean, I am already up and dressed, why not run an errand? Why not do some enrichment with my cats? I literally could not afford to ruminate or go down thinking rabbit holes or sit around all day in my room. So I didn’t.

Yes, I could have used more rest and better care, but I found that I accomplished more each day/meeting, had more small wins, and felt a bit better about myself than the other clients in the program, who often had nothing else to do in their lives but work on their mental health.

It ended up I left the program because I got a job, which was actually better for that aspect of my health than the treatment. (I am neurodivergent and lack some social skills/tend to make faux pas, which forced me to hold myself back from expressing myself fully in groups and caused flak with the counselor who could not understand my challenges. While on the other hand, a schedule, routine, and working in my field was a huge mental health lift for me).