5 Things to Remember When You Want to Give Up on Life

Spring is now in full bloom, so things are looking up. At least, that’s what is to be expected, right? But for those of us who are battling anxiety or depression, we may not feel the same alleviation. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 38,285 deaths were caused by suicide in 2011, which translates to approximately 734 deaths per week. The rate, however, unfortunately grows even higher when the flowers start to blossom. Winter has a reputation for being the most brutal, so why is it during the season of rebirth that most people decide to take their own lives?

Biometeorologist Grady Dixon from Mississippi State University states that he discovered two potential theories that explains the tie between spring and suicide. Dixon hypothesizes that when the season arrives, people with severe depression are motivated to take action and follow through with taking their own life. Winter, on the other hand, often freezes their desire to make a plan to do it when they feel overwhelmed and disengaged. Dixon’s second theory proposes that people are usually aware that they are affected by seasonal depression. So when spring finally comes and they don’t feel better, they feel isolated from those who do recover.

There’s so much tragedy involved with growing up—responsibilities and bills pile up, breakups happen when you love the wrong person, and the people who you couldn’t wait to see each day are now the ones you hesitate to contact. It doesn’t get easier, but we want to remind you that there will always be moments in between that make things okay. Psych2Go shares with you 5 things to remember when you want to give up on life:

1. Your problems are temporary, but suicide is not.

When people are in the process of committing suicide, their lives replay in their head, and right then and there, they wish they could go back and stop themselves when they realize that their problems—every single one of them—could’ve been fixed. But when you decide to kill yourself, you don’t have the option to grow out your regrets. It’s cold, permanent, and forever.

I know what it’s like when everything around you feels incredibly pointless. Feelings get old and the excitement wears off, so you try to move onto the next big thing. But no matter where you go, it always happens. You end up feeling stuck, just wanting a release of joy. You grow addicted to moments of relief—mainly because it’s carefree and feels light years away from your troubles that ask for your help and patience.

Before you decide to end your life, ask yourself what it means to be a better person. Duties and responsibilities are what we often try to escape from, but they also remind us to grow. The only way to find solutions is to keep going. Death doesn’t give that to us.

2. Disconnect from what makes you feel lonely and embrace nature.

Social media makes it easy for us to keep in touch with loved ones, but it can also cause us feel more isolated when it gives off the illusion that everyone else is living better lives. In reality, though, we’re all going through our fair share of struggles and have things that we aren’t happy about. Rather than browsing your newsfeed with moments people have selectively decided to post online, go out and do some soul-searching. It’ll be a much more fulfilling and authentic experience. Whether it means going for a hike in the woods or a walk by the shoreline, embrace the sensations around you and find the calm within the chaos. It exists, I promise.

3. Reach out to others, even when you don’t want to.

When you hit rock bottom, you might feel ashamed and wish to retreat yourself from the world. You might also feel tired of fighting and the last thing you want is to explain yourself to others. But, reach out anyway. Tell someone that it’s hard to talk about, and just ask that they be there for you. When you’re ready, you can let them in on the full story. If you’re unsure about who to contact, first make a list and write down all the names of the people who matter to you, whether they are your friends, lover, family, coworkers, or pet.

When you’re feeling suicidal, all you think about is an exit strategy. But, there are consequences even after you think everything is over. The great news is you won’t feel anything after you die, but everyone who knows you will have to live the rest of their lives, wondering what they could’ve done to save you. They’ll most likely blame themselves everyday. It’s hard to recover from that sort of pain.

4. Do something that distracts you from the pain.

It’s tempting to stay in bed all day when you feel unmotivated. Depression wears us down and feels like a heavy coat glued to our shoulders. No matter how itchy, uncomfortable, or unflattering it may look on us, sometimes we give into it and let it define us. In reality, though, it’s just what we’re wearing. Try to take your mind off things by watching a movie, reading a book, or working on your favorite arts and crafts project. When I’m feeling particularly down, rather than bottling my negative thoughts, I let go and have a good cry. Then when I’m ready, I pick myself up and engage in my favorite hobbies that helps me clear my head.

5. Remember why you held on for so long.

When you have anxiety, it causes you to think of problems before they even exist. As a result, you may focus too much on things that can potentially go wrong, rather than coming up with ideas that helps you move forward. Whether you’re going through a rough breakup, experiencing setbacks from achieving your dreams, or feeling uncertain about where you’re headed in life, take a look at everything you’ve already survived. You might feel jaded and want to call it quits, but ask yourself why you held on for so long.

It’s okay to shut down and get away every once in a while if you need to recharge and find your purpose again. When you come back, ask yourself if you still want to give up completely, or if it’s just a break you needed all this time.

What do you think?

We understand that life can be a downer, but we hope things get better for you. What reminds you to keep going? Please share your thoughts with us by leaving a comment down below.

Want to say hello or send a personal message? You can reach the author at catherine@psych2go.net. ♥

If you enjoyed this article, then you may also like 5 Things To Remember When Your Life Is Falling Apart or 5 Self Care Tips When You Feel Broken.

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References:

Baker, D. (2014, October 21). Ten Things to Do If You’re Feeling Suicidal. HuffPost. Retrieved May 1, 2018.

Hauser, A. (2014, March 25). The Connection Between Spring and Suicide. The Weather Channel. Retrieved May 1, 2018.

Sunny, C. (2018). 5 Things to Remember When You are Suicidal. Lifehack. Retrieved May 1, 2018.