Cures for the Wounded

Have you ever felt lonely after a hectic day at work (or school)? Or ever felt like your life is meaningless, and nobody cares for you? And things didn't work out the way you planned? And you discovered that there is no more joy in life? And you decided that it is time to give up hope? Or are you feeling it now?

The good news is, everyone feels the same thing at one point of his life (which means you are perfectly normal). And the bad news? Sometimes, you need to find the cure for yourself. Here's a list of possible remedies that you could try. So what are they?

• Cry. Yes, free your tears from their pouches. Cry as hard as possible. Let your emotion dive into the sea of your tears, let them become one, and be gone from you. Breathe hard, and after a while, you should feel light (as a feather). And when you do, congratulations, you have reached the end of your therapy session. (Tip: Do not care about your makeup, or your appearance, while you are crying. It will just make you feel worse!)

• Laugh. That's right, laugh! Laughing makes you feel more optimistic. It gives you the feeling that there is still hope for you. It's important that you don't perform fake laughs, for it makes you feel empty. To get a good laugh, you can browse through the humour-equipped pages in Reader's Digest, or watch funny television channels, like 'Gag Concert' on KBS. (Tip: Do not proceed with this form of therapy directly after you have tried crying. People might think you have gone mad when they see you cry and laugh!)

• Music. Have some favourite songs? Go listen to them. Doing something you like helps kick away the sadness thriving in your heart. It makes you feel that life is meaningful and that there are plenty of things that you can enjoy doing. (Tip: Come on! If you broke up with your lover, don't listen to songs about lovers breaking up! Go listen to light-hearted songs.)

• Write. You might want to talk to someone else about your problems so that you will feel better. But bear in mind that other people have their own problems to be worried about. So why not try to write them down? It allows you to release your feelings onto the paper you are writing on. Seeing your problems written on a piece of paper convinces you that your problem is not as serious as expected. You will be more positive in finding the solutions to your problems. (Tip: Do not be so naïve and burn the paper you have written your problems on. It doesn't solve your problems and it leads to air pollution!)

I want to make it clear that the above solutions and explanations are based on my personal experience. So, for professionals (doctors or counsellors or equivalent), do not attack my mailbox with reprimands. Anyway, good luck, if you want to try these methods out!