Why You Should Never Lose Hope: Experiences Of A Mental Health Author
By: Stan Popovich
I struggled with fear and anxiety for over 20 years and there were many times I felt like giving up.
There were times I was at the end of my rope and I did not know what to do. There were times that my fears, anxieties, and depression were so much more powerful than me that I had trouble getting through a given day let alone one week. It was very tough, however I did not lose hope and I did not give up.
Discovering Effective Techniques In Overcoming Fear
In order to get through those difficult times, the first thing I did was to admit I had a problem and I sought the services of a professional mental health counselor. I also made an effort to learn as much as I could in dealing with fear and anxiety by reading a lot of books and doing a lot of personal research.
I knew that the answers I was looking for were out there and all I had to do was to make an effort to find them. Over time I became very knowledgeable on how to deal with fear and anxiety. With this newfound knowledge, I started to look at my fearful and anxious situations differently.
Learning From My Previous Mental Health Experiences
Whenever I encountered a fearful and anxiety related situation, I would apply the techniques I learned from the professionals.
Instead of looking at my struggles as a curse, I looked at each situation as a learning experience. For example, I remembered when I first learned to ice skate. In the beginning, I fell down all the time but I kept getting back up even though it was very difficult. Over time, I did not fall as much and eventually I was able to skate without falling down.
It was very tough and scary during my struggles, however I made an effort to find out which techniques worked for me and which ones did not work out. I would then write down this information in a small notebook.
The next time I encountered a similar situation, I was better able to deal with it by reading my notebook. This prevented me from repeating the same mistakes I made in the past. It was tough, but I was better able to deal with my fears and anxieties. I also continued to use the services of a professional during this learning process.
Asking God For Help
Praying and asking help from God was a tremendous asset in getting through my struggles. I would go to church, listen to the sermons, read the Bible, and I talked to God on a regular basis. God works in mysterious ways and including God in my life gave me hope and the faith to continue on during my mental health struggles. Do not underestimate the power of God when it comes to your mental health issues.
How I Got Through Each Week
When I struggled with my fear and anxiety on a daily basis, I would wonder how in the world I would get through each week. I would make it a habit to take things one day at a time. I also made an effort to not dwell on my fearful and anxious thoughts which were telling me that I wasn’t going to make it. I focused on what worked and what didn’t work during my mental health struggles.
I also realized that you can’t predict the future. I learned that a person maybe 99% correct in predicting the future, but all it takes is that 1% to make a difference. There are factors and circumstances that you can’t predict or anticipate that can make the biggest impact in finding the answers to your fears. Knowing this little known fact gave me hope whenever I felt like I would not make it.
In Summary
The key is not to give up and to seek help from the professionals. You are not alone when it comes to your mental health struggles. There are many support groups in your area where you can get assistance and find people who can relate to your situation. Your situation is not hopeless and by making the right decisions you will eventually be able to get your life back on track.
