There IS A Way Out

For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, regarding the affliction that happened to us in the province of Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of living. 

2 Corinthians 1:8

 

This is not a topic many people want to consider, yet it is one of the extremely important because it can help save someone's life...perhaps even yours.

 

We endure a lot every single day, and if we allow it, we will carry it with us until the burden builds up and threatens to destroy us.  Think of it this way, take your every day stress and think of it as a stone.  The bills you have to pay (each one being a stone), the demands of the job (each one is a stone), the expectations of others (each one is a stone), dealing with family matters (each one is a stone), getting the children to all their activities (each one is a stone), keeping your relationships positive and meaningful (each is a stone)...you get the idea.  Now, each stone gets put into a backpack you have to carry everywhere you go, even in the shower, to bed, everywhere.  How long do you think it would take for you to get uncomfortable?  How about until you get overwhelmed?

 

Each stone, in and of itself, isn't that heavy.  Yet when we let them build up and build up without dealing with them, they can become too much fairly quickly.

 

Also consider those who have endured traumatic events and are now haunted by those events and are constantly replaying them in their minds unable to stop them.  The doubts, the questions, the self accusations, the self condemnations that scream in their minds are relentless.  Then add on the regular daily stresses and you can see how this can very quickly become overwhelming.

 

You see, when get overwhelmed, we start to despair.  Despair is the loss of hope.  When we despair, we tend to withdraw into ourselves because we have been trained to believe being overwhelmed is a weakness and if you seek help you are a worthless wuss.  This train of thought needs to stop!  

 

The reason there is help available is because help is needed.  However, if no one knows what's wrong, they cannot help.  

 

This thought of despair came crashing down on me over the weekend when I was informed that someone I knew had surrendered to despair and took his own life.  That should not have happened!  Yet, I now have to accept that it did and I was not able stop it because I had not kept in contact with him.  

 

Here are some things we need to understand:

     1.  We are NOT alone!  No matter what we are enduring, there is always someone else who has also dealt with or is dealing with the same or very similar situation!

     2.  If you can see no way out, reach out for help.  Reaching out is a great step to take!

     3.  Write down what's on your mind. Sometimes just the act of getting the issues out on paper or a Word Document can alleviate some of the stress.

    4.  Stay around other people!  We tend to isolate ourselves when we are feeling overwhelmed.  Keeping around other people can help distract us from sinking into despair.

     5.  Keep breathing!  That may sound silly, but remember life happens to us one breath at a time.  We cannot take more than one breath at a time!

 

Please, and I cannot ask enough, PLEASE reach out for help!   

 

"Weeping may only last the night, but joy comes every morning." - Psalm 30:5