Let’s get something straight right out of the gate: mental health is not a luxury—it’s survival. And if anyone tells you otherwise, kindly (or not-so-kindly) remind them that even Beyoncé probably cries in the shower sometimes.
As badass, over-50 women juggling careers, kids, marriages, divorces, dogs, and the occasional wine-fueled existential crisis, we’ve been taught to suck it up. Keep smiling. Keep pushing. Keep handling all the damn things like the queens we are.
But here’s the truth bomb: you can’t pour from an empty champagne glass. And running on fumes while pretending you’re “fine” isn’t just exhausting—it’s dangerous.
Let’s Talk About the Real Stuff
Stress. Depression. PTSD. Anxiety. Burnout. We wear them like invisible armor. But that armor is heavy, and eventually, it cracks. Mental health isn’t some woo-woo, whisper-behind-the-hand topic. It’s science. It’s medicine. It’s life. And there is zero shame in saying, “Hey, I need help.”
Because guess what? You deserve peace. You deserve joy. You deserve to take care of yourself just as fiercely as you take care of everyone else.
Why Do We Ignore Our Mental Health?
Because we’re too busy.
Because we think we’re supposed to be strong.
Because we were raised to believe therapy is for “other people.”
Because somewhere along the way, we confused self-neglect with selflessness.
To hell with that.
Here’s How to Actually Take Care of Your Mental Health (Without Setting Your Life on Fire)
1. Talk to Someone Who’s Paid to Listen
Whether it’s a licensed therapist, psychiatrist, or counselor, get professional support. Your bestie is amazing, but she’s not trained to unpack trauma while also drinking sangria on your patio.
2. Check in With Your Doctor
Hormonal shifts, vitamin deficiencies, and thyroid issues can mimic or magnify mental health symptoms. Get your bloodwork done. Tell your doctor everything—even the stuff you’ve been “managing” for years.
3. Medication is Not a Dirty Word
If a pill can help balance your brain chemistry and give you your life back? Take. The. Pill. You’re not weak. You’re not broken. You’re chemically recalibrating your superpowers.
4. Practice Saying ‘No’ (Without Apologizing)
Mental health maintenance sometimes looks like canceling brunch, muting group texts, or saying no to that “quick favor” that turns into a three-hour stress spiral. Protect your peace like it’s a Gucci purse, babe.
5. Move Your Body (Even if It’s Just to the Couch and Back)
You don’t need to run marathons or do goat yoga in a barn. Take a walk. Stretch. Dance like no one’s watching (or like everyone’s watching and you just don’t give a damn).
6. Sleep. Hydrate. Eat Something Green.
We act like these are luxuries, but they’re survival basics. Treat your body like it belongs to someone you actually like.
7. Cry, Scream, Journal—Feel All the Feelings
You’re allowed to be angry. To grieve. To feel overwhelmed. Don’t bottle it up. Emotions are not weaknesses. They’re indicators that your soul has something to say.
8. Join a Support Group or Online Community
Find your people. The ones who get it. The ones who’ve been there. Talking to others who understand your struggles can be a lifeline—and let’s be honest, sometimes strangers give the best advice.
Final Word: You Can’t Be a Badass if You’re Burned Out
You’ve survived some serious stuff. You’ve risen from the ashes more than once. But now? It’s time to thrive. That starts with caring for the person in the mirror.
You are not a burden. You are not dramatic. You are not weak.
You are a woman who’s doing the brave, hard, necessary work of healing—and that, darling, is the most badass thing of all.
Now, go hydrate, make that therapy appointment, and remind yourself that your mental health matters. Because queens don’t crumble—they rise.
