Feeling trapped, unable to enjoy the little things, dreading the next class, assignment or even the boring chores I had to do when I would get home. My everyday life started becoming dull. Last year there was a time when that was me. While I was doing something I loved, I couldn’t find any pleasure in doing it. I was working more than I should and I was neglecting myself. Stress got the best of me and I couldn’t figure out what was wrong, untill someone told me to take it easy and take some time off.
After following their advice, I overcame my fears and realized that I was stressed. Coming to terms with the fact that I wasn’t in the right state of mind was hard; maybe one of the hardest experiences I have had since starting law school. This time something had to change. I started by being more alert and aware of my feelings during the day. After two weeks a pattern appeared right in front of my eyes. How come I’ve never seen this before? When I started thinking negatively about a situation, I stopped myself. Could there be something positive about this? I asked. Finding these positive details took practice. And time. However, it made all the difference. Two months later, I felt more like myself again.
Sometimes life is hectic and our to-do list is longer than a law school textbook (Just kidding. There’s nothing longer than a law school textbook.). We might lose ourselves in stress, loneliness or even anger. These feelings shouldn’t define the way we live our lives to an extent when it’s harder to enjoy the little things and find peace. This is not what we want to remember a few years later. Now I can see why it’s important to stand still, to enjoy these years; because they’re not meant to be just work. It’s now that we get to know ourselves and become the persons we want to be. It’s our opportunity to enjoy living stress-free. So let’s take advantage of it.
I’m writing this mainly because last year I learned through experience that mental health is crucial. In Greece we’re not used to talking about this subject openly just yet, so why not start a conversation? I have to be clear though: I have not experienced a mental illness and I am not trying to give advice in any way. If you experience depression or any kind of persistent negative feelings and feel like you want to talk to someone try these lines: Depression Help Line- 1034, Counceling for teenagers and young adults- 210 36 38 833, Counceling for Students of the NKUA- 210 72 77 554, National Centre for Direct Social Aid- 197.
What are your thoughts on the subject? I’d love to hear from you.
See you next time,
Kleanthi
theartstories.blog 