{"id":1848,"date":"2016-11-16T22:32:53","date_gmt":"2016-11-16T22:32:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/depressionhelp\/?p=1848"},"modified":"2016-11-16T22:32:53","modified_gmt":"2016-11-16T22:32:53","slug":"questions-to-ask-before-giving-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/depressionhelp\/2016\/11\/questions-to-ask-before-giving-up.html","title":{"rendered":"Questions To Ask Before Giving Up"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"giving<\/a><\/p>\n

Everything is awful and I’m not okay. Here are questions to ask before giving up.<\/h3>\n
\n

Are you hydrated?<\/strong> \u00a0If not, have a glass of water.<\/p>\n

Have you eaten in the past three hours?<\/strong> \u00a0If not, get some food \u2014 something with protein, not just simple carbs. \u00a0Perhaps some nuts or hummus?<\/p>\n

Have you showered in the past day? <\/strong>\u00a0If not, take a shower right now.<\/p>\n

If daytime: are you dressed? <\/strong>\u00a0If not, put on clean clothes that aren\u2019t pajamas. \u00a0Give yourself permission to wear something special, whether it\u2019s a funny t-shirt or a pretty dress.<\/p>\n

If nighttime: are you sleepy and fatigued but resisting going to sleep?<\/strong> \u00a0Put on pajamas, make yourself cozy in bed with a teddy bear and the sound of falling rain, and close your eyes for fifteen minutes \u2014 no electronic screens allowed. \u00a0If you\u2019re still awake after that, you can get up again; no pressure.<\/p>\n

Have you stretched your legs in the past day?<\/strong> \u00a0If not, do so right now. \u00a0If you don\u2019t have the spoons for a run or trip to the gym, just walk around the block, then keep walking as long as you please. \u00a0If the weather\u2019s crap, drive to a big box store (e.g. Target) and go on a brisk walk through the aisles you normally skip.<\/p>\n

Have you said something nice to someone in the past day?<\/strong> \u00a0Do so, whether online or in person. \u00a0Make it genuine; wait until you see something really wonderful about someone, and tell them about it.<\/p>\n

Have you moved your body to music in the past day?<\/strong> \u00a0If not, do so \u2014 jog for the length of an EDM song at your favorite BPM, or just dance around the room for the length of an upbeat song.<\/p>\n

Have you cuddled a living being in the past two days?<\/strong> \u00a0If not, do so. \u00a0Don\u2019t be afraid to ask for hugs from friends or friends\u2019 pets. \u00a0Most of them will enjoy the cuddles too; you\u2019re not imposing on them.<\/p>\n

Do you feel ineffective? \u00a0<\/strong>Pause right now and get something small completed, whether it\u2019s responding to an e-mail, loading up the dishwasher, or packing your gym bag for your next trip. \u00a0Good job!<\/p>\n

Do you feel unattractive?<\/strong> \u00a0Take a goddamn selfie. \u00a0Your friends will remind you how great you look, and you\u2019ll fight society\u2019s restrictions on what beauty can look like.<\/p>\n

Do you feel paralyzed by indecision?<\/strong> \u00a0Give yourself ten minutes to sit back and figure out a game plan for the day. \u00a0If a particular decision or problem is still being a roadblock, simply set it aside for now, and pick something else that seems doable. \u00a0Right now, the important part is to break through that stasis, even if it means doing something trivial.<\/p>\n

Have you seen a therapist in the past few days?<\/strong> \u00a0If not, hang on until your next therapy visit and talk through things then.<\/p>\n

Have you been over-exerting yourself lately \u2014 physically, emotionally, socially, or intellectually?<\/strong> \u00a0That can take a toll that lingers for days. Give yourself a break in that area, whether it\u2019s physical rest, taking time alone, or relaxing with some silly entertainment.<\/p>\n

Have you changed any of your medications in the past couple of weeks, including skipped doses or a change in generic prescription brand?<\/strong> \u00a0That may be screwing with your head. \u00a0Give things a few days, then talk to your doctor if it doesn\u2019t settle down.<\/p>\n

Have you waited a week?<\/strong> \u00a0Sometimes our perception of life is skewed, and we can\u2019t even tell that we\u2019re not thinking clearly, and there\u2019s no obvious external cause. \u00a0It happens. \u00a0Keep yourself going for a full week, whatever it takes, and see if you still feel the same way then.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ve made it this far, and you will make it through. \u00a0You are stronger than you think.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

This post is available as a downloadable one-page PDF here.<\/a><\/small><\/p>\n

by Eponis Sinope<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

* Click here to find out more about Terezia Farkas\u00a0<\/a>and Depression Help<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Twitter: \u00a0@tereziafarkas \u00a0#wellness #mentalhealth<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Everything is awful and I’m not okay. Here are questions to ask before giving up. Are you hydrated? \u00a0If not, have a glass of water. Have you eaten in the past three hours? \u00a0If not, get some food \u2014 something with protein, not just simple carbs. \u00a0Perhaps some nuts or hummus? Have you showered in…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":578,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,105,9],"tags":[5,4,84,169,175,6],"class_list":["post-1848","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-depression-help-2","category-personal-growth","category-suicide","tag-beliefnet","tag-depression-help","tag-prayer","tag-self-care","tag-suicide-prevention","tag-terezia-farkas"],"yoast_head":"\nQuestions To Ask Before Giving Up - Depression Help<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Everything is awful and I'm not okay. 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