So You've Lost It

So you've lost it.  You've come to the end of your rope, and you just can't go on.  The world doesn't make sense anymore.  Everything you try to do to help yourself just makes you fall deeper into the pit.  Perhaps doing nothing is the best you can manage right now.  A catatonic freeze might even sound appealing.

Sometimes the world appears hopeless.  In your best moments, you bravely tell yourself that you could do one small thing if only you knew what step to take, but the big picture threatens to overwhelm you.  You need someone to take you by the hand and lead you inch-by-inch into the unknown.  However, since you're at your most vulnerable, any ill-meaning person could take advantage of you.  You're frightened to even reach out.

We've all been there.  Or rather, we've likely all been there.  It's not something most people readily admit to.

I wrote this manual to be your little guide through the chaos you're in.  Since it's just a book, it can't read your thoughts and potentially thwart your success.  It's here at your disposal.  Take it as slowly as you wish.  Let it be that little voice edging you to the next right thing, that trustworthy friend holding your hand as you make your way back into a world that makes sense.

But first things first.  Since you've lost it, you really don't have to do anything at all.  You're at the bottom.  Consider yourself indisposed.  In fact, if you choose to lie in bed all day and do nothing more than prevent yourself from making self-harming decisions, that is enough.

If need be, check yourself into a psych ward for a mental break.  If that's not feasible, make your home a ward of sorts and forbid yourself to do anything you wouldn't recommend to a mental patient.  You can even go so far as to take a small piece of paper and pen a big "Rx" on top, then proceed to list the daily activities you would prescribe for yourself if you were your own doctor.  Make sure to include plenty of rest and mind-numbing pampering.  And absolutely no added stressors allowed!  If you'd like, you can make yourself a doctor's note and post it in an obvious location for family and friends who might need some explaining.

Now that you're lying in bed, I want you to consider this.  Your life didn't fall apart all at once.  It likely disassembled bit by bit as you struggled to hold on and your coping skills failed you.  It could happen to anybody.  You are not weak.  Your circumstances simply got bigger than you knew how to handle.  The good news is that it's never too late to build up your toolbox of coping skills, and with each skill you enhance, your unhappiness will take a decided ding.  Eventually, you may find blue skies and sunshine again.

This book isn't a cure-all, but if you are able to get through these steps, I am convinced your life will improve drastically and your future chances of a breakdown will decrease.  I've ordered the steps in a way that I believe will assist you the most—with the most urgent, power-packing ones at the beginning.

You can do this.  Just hang in there another moment and take that next little step.