Life Sucks Lately: Finding Your Way Out of a Personal Funk

 The idea of being in a personal "funk" has been coming up in a lot of conversations lately: 

“I’m in a funk.” 

“I don’t really know why I feel sad but I do.”

“I’m not sure what is going on but I’m not enjoying work/family/life like I used to.” 

You’ve found yourself in a funk. You’re feeling low. You’re feeling generally unlike your normal self. What can you do? 

1. Remind yourself that feelings don’t last forever.
​You won’t always feel the way you’re feeling now. You will feel happy and back to your normal self again one day. 

2. Don’t let yourself slide into unhealthy habits that might reinforce your “funk”-y feelings.
I know when I’m feeling sad I tend to - stop exercising - sleeping too much - start eating more - start eating less healthy foods - hide away from others - stop socializing. All of these things can contribute or exacerbate to feeling down. 
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3. Reach out and let someone know what is going on.
The best thing you can do is invite someone into what is going on in your life. You need someone who can check in on you from time to time and see how you’re doing. Funkiness grows strongest in secret - bring your feelings out into the light. 

4. Keep on keeping on.
Sometimes the best way out of a funk is through it. At times we just have a season where we are in a weird mood. Sometimes we just need to keep practicing healthy habits and wait for the funk to clear. 

5. Know when to get help.
If you: 

• Can’t remember the last time you had a good day 
• Are feeling fatigued almost every day 
• Are seeing negative effects on your personal life or work/school 
• Are having suicidal thoughts (National Suicide Prevention Lifeline/Call 1-800-273-8255)
• Are feeling overwhelmed by your feelings 

You should seek professional help. You may be experiencing symptoms of depression. This list is not inclusive and is not meant to serve as a way to diagnose depression. Rather, these are some signs that you should seek help from a counselor. If you are having thoughts of suicide, call: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline / 1-800-273-8255. 

Sometimes you need someone to help talk you through what you’re feeling. If you think seeing a counselor could be helpful, call Bethel Haven at (706) 310-9046 to schedule an appointment with one of our counselors.