The sun came up today over the valley with an incredible beauty. A little bit of haze created an even more beautiful atmosphere in the air today.
But you may not have noticed the sun. Today may be dark.
2020 has been a hard year, and the Idaho Suicide Prevention Hotline has received a lot more calls this year about anxiety. Some about the pandemic, but many about a wide variety of stressors.
I don’t have all the answers. There’s a lot going on in our lives. But I’ve battled my own stress, my own battles with depression and being overwhelmed.
If this is you today, I want to tell you that it gets better. This isn’t everything. And if, and only if, you’re asking for some advice, let me give you 3 simple suggestions:
- It’s okay to talk to someone. When things get heavy, there’s no shame in talking to someone you trust. Friend, counselor, pastor, parent, priest. Someone who can let you vent and help you feel better. My counselor (or friend that I pay as I call him), has been invaluable in my life!
- Get out. Exercise. Go for a drive. Go do something. There’s a lot of things you CAN do, even during a pandemic.
- Battle the anxiety with thankful thoughts. I know it sounds cheesy. I’m fully aware. But, our brains respond quickly to stress and fear. Wisdom and rational thinking is harder and slower. Gratefulness, even for the little things, helps slow our minds and feel good again.
We are in this together. Hit us up anytime. Contact our chaplain – milton@project887.com, call us 208-649-1887, or DM us on social media.