3 Ways to Change Your Life When You’re Feeling Down, Low & Stuck

2020 has been one of the hardest years for many of us.

This year alone, I lost my childhood dog and my grandfather. Life begins to feel draining when you lose those close to you on top of a restricting Pandemic. Life doesn’t always go our way, but we have to stay strong and develop strategies to cope with our pain.

According to the World Health Organization, Depression is a common mental disorder. Globally, more than 264 million people of all ages suffer from depression.

We all deal with pain in different ways. Some of us may get angry, others of us may lock ourselves in a room and cry for days. No matter how you react, it’s important to find healthy ways to cope.

In this article, I’m going to share some strategies with you that will allow you to handle your stress in a way that helps you move forward and do great things in life.

Figure Out Where Your Pain Stems From

Start by trying to pinpoint the reasons why you feel down and depressed. We have to look deep within ourselves to find the answer to this question. People may think they know what’s bogging you down, but only you will truly know.

I’ve been in some dark places in my life, but I always ask myself a few questions before doing something I’d regret or if I feel like there’s no hope.

Here are a few things to consider when trying to find where your pain is coming from.

Are you happy with where you’re at in life?

Is your financial situation stressing you out or making you doubt yourself?

Is your relationship with your friends, family, and significant other healthy?

Are you losing loved ones you care about and would do anything to bring them back?

Do you feel fulfilled with the things you do in your free time?

Do you feel connected to people closest to you?

Is there anything you’re getting excited to do every day, or do you feel like there’s no meaning to life?

Do you have a creative outlet that allows you to destress and unwind?

Everyone goes through something. We all have issues that may not be considered “first-world-problems”, but they’re problems. Your issues are important, and it’s important not to undermine how you’re feeling.

Don’t think that just because you’re more fortunate than the rest of the world, you don’t deserve to feel the way you do.

4 Quick Strategies to Feel Just a Little Better

I personally do a wide variety of activities to deal with stress, depression, and unhappiness. Some of the things I do help me express my creativity and other strategies to get more in touch with my emotions.

1. Write about everything that’s on your mind.

When I feel overwhelmed and incredibly stressed, I pull out a notebook or my MacBook and write. Some of the things I write are published to my blog, and other pieces are just for me to get my emotions out.

Reflect on the good, the bad, where you’re at, any goals you may have, and what actions you can take. Don’t think twice about what you’re writing. Keep your hands moving and pour it all out onto the paper.

You’ll feel much better when you look at everything you’ve composed. If you write down actionable steps, you’ll be in an excellent position to turn your frown upside down.

2. Go for a nature walk or run by yourself.

Most people say that you shouldn’t spend time alone when you’re feeling down or depressed, but what I’ve found is that going out into nature by myself is an effective way to destress.

Since I live right next to Lake Michigan, I throw on a hoodie, my AirPods, and some comfortable shoes and then head down to the water. It’s important to get exercise and retrigger your brain to release some of the pain and stress.

For some, a walk or run might not do it. You can go to your local gym and lift weights. The release of dopamine you’ll feel coursing through your veins will help you forget the pain momentarily. Nature walks allow your mind to explore and put your negative thoughts on hold.

3. Talk to someone you trust and enjoy conversating with.

On the opposite spectrum of spending time by yourself, I recommend that you surround yourself with good people. We all have a family member, friend, coach, mentor, someone who can say anything that clicks with us.

Reach out to the people who make you feel better. You may think you’re a burden, but most people want to help someone who’s hurting. If you consider yourself close to them, then you shouldn’t feel any guilt asking for help.

People who struggle oftentimes don’t ask for help, and that’s when they get overwhelmed and go down a dark hole of pain and discomfort. There have been a few instances where I wish I could have been there for someone struggling, but it was too late.

People are incredible creatures who have the ability to think and feel emotions. Use the compassion and caringness of other human beings to dig yourself out of a hole. I always remind myself that life is full of ups and downs and that this pain is only temporary.

Talk with your special someone. Allow yourself to laugh, cry, be vulnerable, and anything else you need to do to feel slightly better.

4. Listen to Music That Matches Your Mood

Music is the best medicine ever created, but not just any music. Personally, I listen to upbeat music 95% of the time, but when I feel depressed, I’ll play sad songs. It’s important to embrace your emotions and not to run away from them.

In my Spotify account, I’ve created playlists ranging from upbeat EDM all the way to deep, depressing songs. It’s important to match the emotions you’re feeling with the content that you consume.

Embrace the suck. Embrace all of the pain and stress you’re feeling for the short-term so that you can move forward when you’re ready to get back on track.

Understand That It’s Okay Not to Be Okay

No matter how upbeat or happy you typically are, life will always find a way to knock you down. The only thing you can do is acknowledge that life is coming at you hard, and you need to be resilient.

Resilience will allow you to push forward and make strides towards recovery. If you asked everyone close to you how they’re doing, most of them would say that they’re doing alright when deep down they’re hurting with you.

It’s not easy to be vulnerable and admit when you aren’t feeling your best. You have to permit yourself to feel sad, upset, or angry. The game of life can be frustrating, and you feel like you’re not catching a break, but one day, you will.

Just keep on pushing and know that you’re going to make it past this short-term pain and that everything gets better with time.

Anyone who’s ever hit an all-time low has hit an all-time high as well.

Keep pushing on, and you’ll eventually find your all-time high.