Q: Realize that your feelings of hopelessness may be a symptom of other mental health concerns that may not have been addressed. Additionally, the feelings of hopelessness could also be a result of feeling discouraged, dissatisfied, distressed, or experiencing negative events. Take stock of your life, and think about whether a particular situation is causing you to feel hopeless.  Loneliness, chronic illness, and low self-esteem are just a few of the common causes of hopelessness. Hopelessness is also listed as a symptom for several behavioral and mental health concerns, such as major depressive disorder, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder, substance dependence, and suicidal ideations. Examine your current assumptions about happiness. Ask yourself whether you’re waiting for a new job, a significant other, or some other external influence to make you happy. If so, try shifting your focus to yourself instead. Realize that you don’t need anything outside yourself to feel content with your life. Inner happiness can’t come from outer sources. If you aren’t happy now, you won’t be happy when your circumstances change for the better, either. Even if you feel miserable today, look for something that you can enjoy. It doesn’t have to be big. Insignificant things that you might take for granted are often the easiest to enjoy when you’re feeling hopeless. For example, you could take a moment to appreciate the free coffee at work or the wildflowers growing along the side of the road. Making changes in your life can improve your outlook, but when you’re stuck in the depths of hopelessness, it’s not easy to take action. Start small by identifying just one thing you can do to improve your life. It doesn’t have to be a big change, just something you can do on a regular basis.  For instance, maybe you could wash your dishes right away after you cook, apply to one job every day, or start going to bed before midnight. Hopelessness thrives on the idea that nothing will ever change. Challenging this belief will help you start to feel better.
A: Identify where your feelings are coming from. Adjust your view of happiness. Find something to appreciate. Find one thing you can change.

Article: To help you get started on your personal narrative, structure out your essay so you have a plan when you begin writing. Always begin your essay with a hook, or an opening that draws the reader in. The hook should be short, clear, and easy to read. It should give the reader a sense of what to expect from your essay. The hook is usually not longer than 1 to 2 sentences. It starts your introductory paragraph and can take the form of a scene, question, interesting fact or statement, or even an anecdote. One way you can open the personal narrative is to start right in scene, with the “I” in action. Describe the setting and have the “I” do things in the setting to create an engaging opening scene. For example, you may with, “I huddled under my Disney Princess bed cover as my father banged on my bedroom door. As I listened to his muffled screams, I wondered if it was possible to simply disappear, away from my lonely home life and my failing high school grades.” Choose a question that focuses on the theme of your personal narrative. Address the reader directly in the question. Keep the question short and clear so the reader can follow along. For example, you may start with a question like, “Have you ever wondered how it might feel to leave your home forever?” or “Have you ever felt like a stranger in your own country?” You can use an interesting fact or a funny statement that relates to the theme of your essay. Starting with an interesting fact or statement can draw your reader in and get them thinking right away. For example, you may start with an interesting fact about lawnmowers if your personal narrative is about how mowing lawns as a kid taught you the value of hard work. Or you may choose a funny statement about winning and losing if your personal essay is about learning how to accept failure. An anecdote is often 1 to 3 sentences long and explores a lesson or moral. It should raise questions in your reader’s mind and introduce key ideas in the essay.  For example, if you are writing about learning how to accept failure, you may start with an anecdote about your father telling you not to lose a softball game as a kid. Or if you are writing about your personal experiences as a refugee, you may use an anecdote on a moment of acceptance you experienced in your new country.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Start with a hook. Set the scene to offer specific details and strong imagery. Pose a question if you want to get the reader thinking. Use an interesting fact to connect to your personal experiences. Start with an anecdote to connect to the larger theme or story.

Q: Some discomfort, bleeding, and swelling during the first few days is common in daith and other cartilage piercings. However, persistent or worsening symptoms could be a sign that something’s wrong. Contact your piercer or see a doctor if bleeding, swelling, or pain don’t improve within a few days after getting your ear pierced. Note that an odorless white or light yellow discharge that dries into a crusty residue isn’t pus. This is a normal part of the healing process. Pus, or foul-smelling, darker yellow or green discharge, is a sign of infection. If you see pus, carefully clean the piercing with saline, and don’t remove the earring. The ring helps allow the wound to drain. Contact your piercer, see your doctor, or head to a health clinic if your piercing is infected. Without proper treatment, infected daith piercings can lead to serious complications, such as abscesses and deformed ears. An reputable piercer can recommend a doctor or clinic experienced with treating infected cartilage piercings. Treatment may include topical or oral antibiotics. If you’re prescribed medication, take it according to your doctor’s instructions.
A:
Note any worsening bleeding, pain, redness, and swelling. Check for a yellow or green foul-smelling discharge. See a doctor if you notice signs of infection.