When you are hanging on by a thread in difficult circumstances, there is hope.
Do you ever feel like you’re barely hanging on by your fingernails? All might even look right when people look at you, but you’re really enduring a great struggle? I think that is true of many people. In this case, knowing you’re not alone doesn’t help the current situation.
What leads to this situation?
Wow, the number of ways someone can find him/herself in this situation is large and diverse. Here are a few:
- Loss of a loved one, friend, dear colleague
- Loss of a job
- Major life transition
- Financial pressures
- Unrealistic expectations
- Isolation
- Constant negativity
- Not finding a source of hope
- Situation that seems endless
What are the signs?
Sometimes people find themselves at this point and are surprised. The loss or life change might have come out of nowhere. Or, the slope to hanging by a thread might have been gradual and barely noticeable.
Some of the signs I hear clients talk about include:
- Waking up with anxiety during the night
- Loss of energy
- Changes in appetite
- Thoughts that are hard to quiet
- Worry
- Stress
- Depression
- Hopelessness
- Decreased sense of self worth
There are physical effects of being in this dark place. Blood pressure and blood sugar are harder to control. When sleep patterns change, risk of depression, pain, and anxiety go up. Productivity declines, so there are lost days of work or decreased work getting done (and that can further increase the stress). Relationships can suffer.
Taking the next steps forward
The first step in recovery is to recognize the signs. Realize you are in this place.
The next step is to realize you don’t need to walk this path alone. If you have trusted family or friends, let them help you. Call your doctor and explain the situation and how you are feeling. Reach out!
The step that is most important is to find your source of hope and meaning.
Finding and focusing on hope and things beyond yourself
Life contains many struggles. That is true for everyone no matter their occupation, the country where they live, their religion, their political beliefs, or their hair color.
People really struggle to handle the ups and downs of life alone. The tendency is to get more and more focused on yourself and your situation. This is a deep, dark, downward spiral. We have probably all found ourselves on that dark path at least once. Some people live in this vicious cyclone of self.
If you’re there now, make a real effort to reach out the do something for someone else today. It can be something as simple as holding a door or giving them a place in front of you in line. Small and large acts of kindness toward other people is one of the best remedies for our own difficult times. Try it and see!
The other is finding your source of hope. Hope is what gets us through the tough times. It is what changes our perspective beyond ourselves and our current situations. It is liberating!
Hope through Christ is central in the Christian beliefs.
Hope is a critical element of the Jewish tradition.
Hope is integral in the Muslim faith.
Hope is a common theme in Buddhism.
If you aren’t sure of your source of hope, I encourage you to invest some time to reflect on this area of your life.
Retirement Wellness Strategies
A growing number of retirees are finding themselves disgruntled, disillusioned, and hanging by a thread. Startlingly, the suicide rate is rapidly escalating. One of the primary purposes of Retirement Wellness Strategies is to facilitate finding meaning, relevance, and peace in retirement.
You can reach us at www.retirewellness.com, michelle@retirewellness.com, or call at 410-472-5078.
