Never Fold Under Pressure....🛠️

I almost died. I remember Tryna take my life more than once growing up. Even as a young man. I made more than one attempt & they all failed. I remember feeling so alone in my mind and my soul. It felt like I was drowning inside and no one could hear me scream. I remember being in rooms full of people and feeling like no one even saw me. No one felt me.

I have met and known so many people in my life who struggled with depression or even suicide. It was very hard to write about this, but I realized how important it could be for someone else to hear this. I studied counseling my first semester of college as well as psychology. So it helped me get a better understanding of the mind, & how it works. Studies show Depression stems from a chemical imbalance. A low balance of serotonin which helps balance, and process our emotions. As well as low levels of dopamine, another neurotransmitter that can elevate our mood, and regulate other parts of the central nervous system. It's a bit more complicated than that, but I'm a give it to you in layman's terms. It's like riding a rollercoaster that keeps going up& down violently, and unexpectedly. Each time you go up, your either in a dark cloud, a heavy storm, or the sun is shining bright, temporarily.

When you struggle with depression or what I would I like to call "Pressure of The Mind", it's a constant battle. You feel like you in a movie that you can't get out of. Or a sad song that just keeps playing over, and over again. Sometimes it cuts off for awhile, and you get a little relief, than it starts up again. Part of that can be 'Anxiety' too. That's another enemy I've come up against. Too familiar a "foe". These was my opp's.

It can be like carrying a constant weight around that no one can see, but you can feel. Sometimes your friends and family feel it too. Especially if they're closely connected to you. That's why I like the expression 'Break Every Chain'. Tasha Cobbs got the song, but many people around the world, of many different levels and dimensions of faith, believe in that.

When people are empathetic, they tend to tap into other people's emotions, from what I've experienced. That means when you are tied to other people personally, you can easily feel the heaviness and the brokenness they experience.

We sometimes feel the highs and the lows. So many people are broken in places they can't even see or reach. That's why I believe in a Higher Power. I have no choice if I want to survive this world we living in. I have always had faith, that's how I broke through the clouds.

Even as a kid , I believed in the word of God, because it was the only thing I found contrary to the hell that I had to go through. I found Truth, I found comfort, and I found Power. I found a deeper understanding of who I believe to be my Creator; and what it means for me to be Created.

I found a deeper Love, in the Word of God. I started to really find myself. I also found "demons". I learned how to identify, and deal with them. I learned how to speak life against them.

I learned that joy can come in the morning, and that light can overcome darkness. I found myself as a young man fighting forces that I had no natural way of fighting. So I tapped into another level of Power; The Living Word.

Wether you believe in God or not, or wether you worship in the church or not, even Positive Thinking or Self-Help Authors will give you a lot of the same principles that come from that particular "department " of faith. I don't get into denominations. I don't represent any at this time.

I have been Christian and Muslim in the Past. I have a strong passion and respect for both religions. I believe in people's right to Worship God or their Creator, or Nature, however they chose. That's all a story for another day though.

What I want to focus on, is how I climbed out of the pit, so many of us fall in. How I keep climbing. One of the best books I ever came across was Joyce Meyers "Battlefield of the Mind". It really breaks down some of the obstacles our thought process will take us through. I remember reading the 'DSM' for the first time, and realizing the whole world could be classified as 'Crazy' or diagnosed with some type of defiency, depending on who is doing the analyzing.

So many people are up every night, all night. Restless, worrying, overthinking, stressing. It's like endless cycles that keep turning. Like a Ferris Wheel That won't stop. They think about their finances, bills, their children, their spouses.

People have their work, their jobs, or even the stress of unemployment on their minds. Students pull all nighters all around the world, just to keep up. Teachers are strategizing into late night hours. I use to be both, so I know.

Business owners, prisoners, politicians, prostitutes, lawyers, entrepreneurs, entertainers, it doesn't matter who you are; none of us are immune to worry or even fear.

When I knew it was time to "Break The Chain", was when I failed at taking me life, and begin to intentionally try to recreate it. I began to learn myself better, and grow inspite of the adversity I faced internally & externally. Some of us are still facing childhood "demons". Some economic or even psychological barriers, have been proven to be genetic, or what modern times have deemed "Generational". Some of us are truly fighting battles that have been passed down through the bloodline. Some peoples norm, is literally "dysfunction"; but they've lived in it so long they dont see it as such.

Ive found so much Peace&Power in pulling other people up out of "Pits". I can't describe how it feels, when you recognize someone is in a dark place, but your able to shed some light. Its easier when you've been where they are, you can relate. I believe I was born to be a Philanthropist. It just makes sense, lol. I love helping people become better versions of themselves. I've always been charitable, but have hardly ever had the means to give to the extent I would like too. I believe that my time is coming though. I walk by Faith, not by Sight.

To redirect anyone who can relate to this article, or understand these viewpoints; I will try to conclude on a simple note. I just had to get through the meat of it. My advice to anyone constantly under pressure from overwhelming thoughts, feelings or emotions, is to find A "Secret Place". What I mean by that is, when I was a child, reading was my escape. Movies& Music was more so my getaway into my teens, sometimes even now. The trick is you have to find a safe space (mentally or physically) to rest your mind&body and pour life enhancing energy into yourself. Identify your "triggers" and try to find healthy ways to respond to them. Don't base your healing journey on what works for others, find out what works for you.

I love to swim, for example. However I live in a city where the weather doesn't permit that often. So I have found myself taking "Prayer Walks". Even if it's inside a building. In the past I would intentionally put some gospel on my headphones and shut everyone out and go walking and talking to God until the "Pressure" was alleviated. When I can't leave my surroundings, but I'm feeling overwhelmed or anxious, I listen to uplifting music. Or if I don't have access to that, I will talk to God. Really lay my thoughts and emotions on the table for Him.

Some people like to create things to find peace.

Artwork, painting, building, sculpting, music.

Some people like to cook & clean, I'm one of them too.

The point is, to find away to positively redirect your thoughts, until you can regulate them along with your feelings. Everyone is different. Talking doesn't always help. Some people don't have a good handle or understanding on their feelings. Some people are very aware of them, but don't know how to process them. I believe that's where a lot of Anger with young men, comes from. From birth we are taught to be "Strong". Told 'big boys don't cry' & to 'tough things out'. A lot if times, no one is giving specific instructions on how to be strong. How to tough it out, or that you can find strength in identifying your weaknesses. Sometimes people just need your presence. Sometimes they need a word, sometimes they just need to be left alone to gather their own thoughts.

There is no magic potion for overcoming, depression, anxiety, trauma or "Pressures of the Mind". Therapy, and medication do help some people, but not everyone. A lot of times it takes a combination of things to climb out the "Pit".

Exercise helps, sleeping enough, eating right.

Ultimately though, I believe it's the Narrative in your head, that makes all the difference. What you tell yourself, about "Yourself" & your situation, is what really will change things for better or worse. I had to believe that things would get better, you have to have hope.

Easier said than done, but if you keep telling yourself your stronger than what your going through & that you will make it, eventually your going to believe it. When you believe something it means you have full confidence in its validity.

You have to re-train your mind. You have to change the story that you grew to believe in your thought process. That things are hopeless& that there never going to change. I personally believe everyday is a new day, and a new chance at life. I wake up every morning with hope & fresh faith, that were all here for a reason. I've seen my whole life change in a moment. I've seen other people's situations turn around in the same day, and a lot of times the situation is beyond our control, so I know there's a God.

Some people say it's the universe or Karma, but I don't think coincidence is the driving force.

There have been too many intentional events that have taken place in my life, things I prayed for, and fought for. That manifested. I don't believe things come together or fall apart by chance.

Life is like an Orchestra, and considering it in that aspect, there's got to be a Conductor. Some members of the band maybe off Key, but the show must go on. I believe there is a Higher Power making sure that the "Show goes on". No matter how high or how low the notes go. Or you could look at it like a 'Train' ride. Some people are in a wreck right now, some people are off track, others are just riding along. No matter the situation, you can't just stay stuck.

Life will go on, and it will go on without you.

That's another thing that picked me up. A lot of people think they aren't as valuable as they were created to be. Or that the world would be better off without them. I use to think that, until I began to see the positive affect I could have on the world, and realized the negative will be there regardless. I remember several times being in a dark place' instead of a 'Secret Place. I also remember thinking, if I take myself out, people maybe sad and miss me for a time, but eventually they will go back to living their lives. Traveling, eating, shopping, holidays, family events, birthdays, graduations, promotions, the list goes on. I would be gone, and everyone else would still be here with the chance to make things better. The chance to enjoy the good things, I left behind. Meanwhile my clock would be up, and there's no do overs. There's no coming back.

Give yourself and everyone else a chance. Understand that Today may not be as bad as yesterday, and Tomorrow could be even better. You will never know, if you choose to let yourself go. So be encouraged, Unload your burdens, and be blessed, not "Pressed". Because none of us knows how the rest of this life will go; but at least your still here to see it....