Healthy Advice: Distracting or dealing?

In addition to my blogging, I write a weekly newspaper column for The Times Observer in Warren, PA. This column originally ran on June 19, 2009.

What do you do when you are feeling down?

Maybe I should have phrased that question, what can't you do when you're feeling down! After all, we live in an age that is characterized by consumerism and amusement. We can distract ourselves from the occasional funk in any number of ways: there's television, radio, movies, the internet, shopping, eating, and even alcohol and drugs. Our society invites us to anesthetize uncomfortable feelings as if they are something inherently bad.

I sometimes wonder if this is akin to pulling the batteries out of a wailing smoke alarm. I short-circuit a warning system that is pointing out that all is not well with my soul. In my experience, a lot of growth occurs when I embrace restlessness instead of trying to snap out of it. I ask myself questions like:

Why am I feeling restless/sad/angry, etc?

When did I start feeling this way?

Is there a situation in my life that I am trying to ignore?

Writing things down helps me get in touch with my feelings. Sometimes I will negotiate myself around how I am feeling for quite some time before I acknowledge what is really there. Getting it out on paper makes it real—and manageable. Talking to a friend is a big help too, especially when they are level-headed. They don't have to have all the answers. Sometimes just listening and asking a few good questions can be a big help.

(NOTE: A persistently sad or hopeless mood that lasts for more than two weeks or interferes with normal daily activities may be a sign of depression. Depression responds well to treatment, and people suffering from it should contact a professional.)

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: Am I distracting myself instead of dealing with an issue in my life?

Ian Eastman, M.A., is a community educator with Family Services of Warren County—a charitable agency that provides counseling, substance abuse services, and support groups.