And the Darkest Hour is Just Before Dawn

When things get complicated and upsetting, feeling low is understandable, and things aren’t going so well in the larger world right now. It’s also the time of year—spring and summer—when suicide rates are highest, according to Adam Kaplin,?assistant professor of?psychiatry?and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins and an expert on?depression?and suicide.?He knows that, contrary to popular belief, suicide rates spike in the light of spring, not the darkness of winter.

The thing to remember is that there’s always a better option. I’ve been very low at times in my life, but I’ve never been a candidate for suicide, because I know that the world can change for the better in a New York minute.?

I have also worked closely with?suicidal?patients who had a means and a plan, and had to be watched. None hurt themselves or anyone else, and they all now wonder how they ever imagined taking their own lives—every single one of them.

Medication, talk?therapy, and personal growth can help you get into a better state of mind and find emotional balance. If you’re feeling bad,?make an appointment to see someone?and set up a daily plan to get better quicker. Daily self-care will help you stay in a good emotional place.

Simple tools like these have saved many from taking their own lives or living with unmanaged depression for the rest of their lives.

The world is in a rough spot right now, and it's only harder if you are also managing depression. Don’t let yourself believe that depression is “normal” because of the state of the world; that’s no way to go through life. You have to learn to let some light and lightness into your emotional space.?

Maybe the way you are looking at things is inaccurate. Feelings can be caused by bio-chemical reactions; in any event, they are not facts. What you are going through emotionally may be the result of bodily changes you are unaware of, so get a medical and psychological check-up if you are feeling down.

Life is never perfect. Mine isn’t. I go through my own stuff just like everyone else, but I also work on myself, which is important to do if you are going through a hard time. If you want to make an investment that pays real emotional dividends, put some time, energy, and money into yourself. I promise you that it will pay off better than Crypto.

Telling your story to a friend, a family member, or a therapist can lighten your emotional burden and perhaps help you see some light at the end of the tunnel. If you are doing fine, but you know someone who could possibly be depressed, a great way to pay it forward is to take them out for coffee and just let them talk.

If you or someone you love is contemplating suicide, seek help immediately. For help 24/7 dial 988 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, or reach out to the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741. To find a therapist near you, visit?the Psychology Today Therapy Directory.