Leahey.org

So with a recent financial situation entering the picture, and a loss of what could only be described as a family heirloom, I have been given the opportunity to write this article from personal experience, in real time.

I hit my low last night. Nothing near suicide or anything like that, just an overwhelming feeling of despair and absolute hopelessness. As I write this right now, just remembering it brings me down a bit.

However, the news is not all bad, as I have found a few tips so that you may avoid hitting lows like I have:

Steve Pavlina wrote back in June that depression doesn’t come from your circumstance, it comes from dwelling on your circumstance. He couldn’t have been more spot-on. Last night, the more I considered my situation, the worse it got. As I tried to reason my way out of it, it was as if the noose of angst was only getting tighter. I was in mental quick sand, the faster I thought, the more I sank.

Then an amazing thing happened. I fell asleep.

I know what you’re thinking, big deal. Yes, big deal. When I woke back up, I experienced what I’m sure many of you have had in the same situation. I felt fine, but had a feeling there was something I was forgetting. “Wasn’t I really upset, before I fell asleep?”, it was after asking myself this question that the reasons WHY I was upset came flooding back. It was then, at that very moment, that I realized the truth behind Mr. Pavlina’s statement.

So I spent the next few hours conquering small tasks and thinking ahead to how I’d like to see situations improve. I didn’t delude myself. I didn’t pretend that everything would be back to the way they were in the future. I instead just pictured things as I’d like them to turn out, from this point forward. I was *astonished* at how quickly I quite literally “snapped-out” of my depression.

So, from now on, when you feel the onset of hopelessness or despair. When you feel those negative thoughts flooding in, try to distract yourself and keep from putting any serious thought in to them. I’m not saying ignore situations that need your time, I’m just saying give them as little of your schedule and worry as you can and let go entirely of situations that you have no control over. I know, easier said than done, but take heart in the knowledge that I just did exactly that, and I’m no stronger a person than you.