Grief, long-term stress, burnout or racing thoughts can affect more than our mood. Many people find that their trust in others, and in themselves, weakens during life crises and periods of mental health challenges. This is a completely normal reaction, and not a sign that something is wrong with you. The good news is that trust is not all or nothing. It can be rebuilt through new experiences, little by little. This World Mental Health Day, we want to focus on how we can do just that.

Trust develops through what we experience. With others, it grows when someone says they will call, and actually calls. When they accept that we say no, and when they listen even if they disagree. With ourselves, it grows when we listen to our own needs, set a necessary boundary or keep a promise we have made to ourselves. And when we make a mistake and manage to repair it, we learn that we do not have to be flawless to cope with what happens. Trusting yourself does not mean knowing that everything will be fine, but knowing that you will try to face what becomes difficult.