"Ashes to ashes, we all fall down." The trick is to stand up, wise up, stop self-medicating on alcohol, heroin, or other drugs & deal with reality.

"Ashes to ashes, we all fall down." In other words, we all have up's and down's. Challenges and changes in our lives should be expected, but if we want emotionally balanced lives, we must adapt and go with the flow or we should seek help. Alcohol or drugs is not the final answer. 

If you feel something is not quite right, it probably isn't. First, keep a record of your thoughts and feelings. Then try to get help. Don't try to do everything on your own. You are a communal being, and your emotional well-being depends on how you take care of yourself and how you reach out to others when the going gets rough. The key to a balanced life is to become aware of your thoughts and feelings, find ways to to manage negativity, and to ask for help. Forget about trying to be positive, half-medicated all of the time. Just stop the madness and talk to someone.

Keeping track of negative emotions can seem unnatural. We are told to think positive, stand strong, and deny our negative emotions, but this is a mistake because  emotions must be expressed. In fact, in one way or another, they will be expressed--outwardly or inwardly. So your first response to strange emotional changes is to stop, take note of your thoughts and feelings, and finally, tell someone you can trust, even if it means dialing 800-273-TALK.

Because there is a strong interest in what is called, "positive psychology," nobody really wants to hear that someone they know is unhappy. It seems they fear your negativity is contagious, especially if it lingers for more than a week or two, but if you're thinking negative thoughts for more than two weeks, something is absolutely wrong. In fact, you might be depressed.

Instead of self-medicating with alcohol or drugs, start writing. Also, start keeping a record of your thoughts and feelings. Simply take out a pen and pad and write 

(c)MDHJohnson, 2013

your thoughts down on a daily basis. Keeping a record of how you feel and think for two or three weeks will be useful if you need to see your family doctor or if you are referred to a mental health professional. 

Not every negative situation is a major problem, especially if you catch it in time. However, you are the guardian of your emotional state, so if you feel strange but can't pinpoint the problem, start keeping track of how you feel.  Do not get lost in the conglomeration of thoughts and feelings and do not be confused by symptoms you never encountered before. Just write down your thoughts and feelings a few times during the day. 

If your thoughts and feelings are out of control, you might have an "invisible illness" or emotional disorder that can be uncovered and easily treated by a mental health professional or even on your own. It's as simple as that. We all experience "ups and downs." The question is, if your emotional upheaval lasts longer than two weeks, what are you going to do about it?

(c) MDHJohnson