Get help.

Thanks to Shakespeare, March 15 is well known as the Ides of March (he didn't create that term). In his play "Julius Caesar" a soothsayer warns Caesar to "Beware the Ides of March!" March 15 was the day that Caesar was assassinated by people who were his closest friends and colleagues. Yikes!

Now, I don't promote paranoia. Trust no one? I love the X-Files, but that's kind of bleak. And most importantly it doesn't serve you very well.

Who can you trust? Find someone with no history with you and no preconceived notions of who you are. Someone objective. Someone trained to objectively listen to you and guide you. 

Here's list of 5 ideas to get you started -- but there are so many more resources to get help.

        * Your family doctor can always refer you for the appropriate counseling.

* Your school guidance counselor has a comprehensive list of help in your area.

* Any church, synagogue or place of spiritual observation. The doors are always open to places of worship, and no matter what you believe or if you are a non-believer, there are people there trained to listen who have a lot of community resources to refer you to.

* Crisis hotlines are available for most issues. The people who answer are trained, experienced and compassionate.

* Support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (and many others) offer help from your peers -- people who have some of the same issues you do and can simply listen and offer nonjudgmental support. 

Most importantly, please get help if you need help.

A Personal Note

For years "It's not a tumor!" -- a line Arnold Schwarzenegger said in "Kindergarten Cop" -- was my go-to joke. I said it all the time. Seriously, people got a bit annoyed with my lame humor (and terrible Arnold impression).

In 2020 -- the perfect year for it -- I found out it WAS, in fact, a tumor. I was diagnosed with a very large (2" diameter) tumor right in the middle of my brain. The middle front-to-back, top-to-bottom and side-to-side. Just sitting there growing and putting increasing pressure on the rest of the brain. 

It was benign, thank all deities, and I had successful surgery to remove it on my birthday. A rebirth for me.

So, first of all -- 2020 sucked.

Second -- my 2020 was pretty lucky, after all, as the tumor that eventually would have killed me was finally discovered and removed.

Third -- you really, really, really, really should not self-diagnose or self-treat.

This website is written by a layperson, but even if I was an eminent research biologist or renowned psychologist, the advice would be the same. See a doctor. In person. Right now. 

If you are depressed or have ANY symptoms, frankly, see a doctor and get a thorough check-up. Doctors are pretty smart. A fantastic G.P. knew the first time we talked that I needed an MRI. 

Get help.

They Say Happiness is the Best Revenge

There Are So Many TED Talks About Depression...

"I'm Fine" - Learning to Live with Depression – Jake Tyler – TEDxBrighton”

“Depression is huge. It's the biggest, most inclusive club in the world. Anyone can join. It's evolving all the time. But its biggest trick is convincing everyone who's part of that club that they're the only member. Isn't that clever?”

An endearing and inspiring TEDTalk.

Read something that once made you feel really great. Maybe it will again!

It could be a children's book, a sci-fi classic, or a biography of one of your heroines.

Escape to a familiar and comforting world, and recreate the incredible feelings that this favorite once inspired.

A Little Help From Your Friends...

 Sound Advice 

(not my creation - no attribution found)

Tip of the Day 

Sit in the sun. From healthline.com:

“Exposure to sunlight is thought to increase the brain’s release of a hormone called serotonin. Serotonin is associated with boosting mood and helping a person feel calm and focused...

“Without enough sun exposure, your serotonin levels can dip. Low levels of serotonin are associated with a higher risk of major depression with seasonal pattern (formerly known as seasonal affective disorder or SAD). This is a form of depression triggered by the changing seasons.”

Get help.

Reading these tips may be very helpful to you. But you know what would be even better?

Professional help.

Even if you've tried before and think nothing can help you. Try again.

Get help.

* * * * *

Here are 7 resources with toll-free phone and/or text numbers for emergency help:

Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (English & Spanish) - 988
Lifeline Crisis Chat: https://988lifeline.org/chat/

Crisis Text Line – US and Canada: text “HOME” to 741741
UK: text “SHOUT” to 85258
Canada: KHP (Kids Help Phone) text CONNECT to 686868
Ireland: text “HOME” to 50808

The Trevor Project: www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help/
Crisis/Suicide Intervention for LGBTQ youth under 25, 1-866-488-7386.
Free, confidential, secure – text START to 678-678.

National Domestic Violence Helpline:
1-800-799-7233 or text START to 88788 – TTY – 1-800-787-3224
Chat in Spanish from the website: https://espanol.thehotline.org/

Military OneSource – Help for U.S. Military Personnel
Call and talk anytime, 24/7, in Spanish & English – 1-800-342-9647.
TTY/TDD – Dial 711 and give the toll free number 800-342-9647
Live Chat – https://livechat.militaryonesourceconnect.org/chat/

The International Association for Suicide Prevention can link you to hotlines and other resources outside of the USA: https://www.iasp.info/resources/

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Helpline:
1-800-662-4357(HELP)
Call or Text 988
Confidential, free, 24/365 information service, in English and Spanish

Strengthen your relationships with the people you love. Sometimes you may feel like darkness surrounds you, and they can be a beacon to follow back to the world.

So, make a list of those you want to stay in touch with and every week call or email the next person on the list.

The people you depend on or who depend on you should be contacted most frequently, but the more people you stay in touch with the lighter your life will feel.

And you may be the guiding light in someone else's life – helping them more than you will ever know.