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My life has been full of A LOT of ups and downs, and as sad as it sounds, I’ve been used to the fact that no matter how good things can be going, the good times would always abruptly come to an end. Nevertheless, as more and more time keeps passing, I am in this sort of natural high feeling, where I feel like I am unstoppable, where I am so focused on striving to complete my goals in school and the workplace, where I can cut toxic people out of my life without any resentment whatsoever because I have come to the understanding that if you aren’t going to help me rise, you don’t need to be a part of my life, where I feel determined to succeed no matter what, where I am actually happy everyday. This isn’t what I’m used to, and this hasn’t been me in years, this actually hasn’t been me since before I ever started having any issues with depression or anything like that. I sometimes worry that things are “too good to be true”, and that eventually this natural high will run out and I’ll cycle down and feel icky again for a certain amount of time. But then at the same time, I’m just like, that’s a mental thing too, that’s a choice, I don’t have to think that I’m going to fail. Have any of you ever gotten in what you feel is like a natural high where you feel unstoppable? Did it eventually end? What are your thoughts on this?
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Hi Luz! I love your description of this feeling of a natural high. I have definitely felt like this many times before, for both long and short periods of times, and at varying intensities.
I also relate to the thought cycle of “it must be ending soon” as well as “what does it mean?” “don’t get used to it” etc.
I think one of the most useful skills I’ve learned thus far, is to “ride the wave”. I don’t know if you’ve ever done any DBT, but this is one of the most helpful tools I learned while I was in intensive DBT treatment a few years ago.
Life is not linear, sometimes I think that can be REALLY difficult to accept and allow, especially when it comes to pain or discomfort. I’m currently doing a online training to become a SMART Recovery Group Facilitator, and the manual has this great quote, something along this lines of, ‘at some point we were made to believe that life is never supposed to be uncomfortable’… something like that, and I LOVED it.
It’s so true! We are taught to fight, resist, and hate discomfort because it’s ‘wrong’ and it means either we or someone else has done something wrong!
This is not the case! Life is supposed to be uncomfortable, and if you can’t find the good in it (we usually can’t until after it’s passed) it is really helpful to sit with the feelings, observe and name them, accept them, and maybe even (when possible and appropriate) rationalize them!
NOTHING in this world is forever. It’s hard to appreciate happiness when we get caught up in the reality that it will at some point fade or pass, maybe for a short moment, or maybe for a longer stretch. But each time we successfully navigate these bumpy roads we become so much more skillful at doing it the next time!
I hope nothing I just said pooped on your natural high. Because, I have been in a similar state for the last few months. I think working has really brought my confidence up, as well as a few other things. I have found that I have remained in this state for a LONG period of time, with short ‘acute’ lapses (bad day, bad week, etc.) but once the storm passes I am still on my high! Here’s to finding our new natural state and rocking life!
Hello Luz! Thanks for sharing your feelings about this natural high you have been feeling.
I truly understand what you mean. I have been on a natural high for a while now- it’s the best feeling. With that said, I do have ups and downs. Some days are better than others. Some days really suck. But for the most part, I am trying to ride out this wave of “I CAN DO THIS!” for as long as I possibly can. I hope you are able to find empowerment in this natural high and you continue on this path of greatness. I believe in you!
Hey guys,
Thanks for responding to my post. I can definitely relate to what you are both saying, and Eliza I love the term of just riding the wave. No matter where the wave may be at any point in time, I just have to remember that the feeling is just a feeling and it will pass even if it’s uncomfortable. I am getting used to sitting in the unfamiliarity of the natural high though, and it feels good. 🙂