You’re feeling low. Worse than low. Near your end.
What do you do?
Immediate relief
- Go outside. The greener, the better. Try to find a safe place to just be. When you’re flooded with the feeling of dread, it can be difficult to stay with your thoughts, to let go and relax into the silence. But it’s important to clear your mind and reconnect with something bigger than yourself. Mountains, trails, oceans, dirt, grass. This all helps us return to a force much more powerful than what we are feeling in the moment.
- Breathe. Find a corner somewhere to be alone and just practice breathing. You’re narrowly focused on all the negativity but you can turn that focus to something as simple as breathing. This will provide some relief. Sit with it as long as you can.
- Talk with someone. Someone you trust, a close confidant, a total stranger. Whatever it takes to get you through this moment. Find a church. Go to a 12 step meeting. Tell them you’re having a real hard time right now and you would be grateful if someone would just listen for a little while.
Long term relief
- Exercise. 10 minutes a day. 30 minutes a day. Whatever it takes. You’re worth fighting for. You just have to move. In any direction. Feel your body. You’re probably disconnected from all that could ground you. Lost in thought. Reconnect to your body by using it. Listen as it sends signals.
- Eat right. Cook at home, stick to items that only have a few ingredients, drink lots of water.
- Seek a healthcare professional. Find a therapist, join a support group, talk with your doctor.
There is a reason you’re alive right now. You have the will to live, you’re just having trouble seeing it at the moment. The pain is unbearable but you manage to fight. You’re stronger than you think. Just keep moving forward and relief will come.