This Is How To Cope When Things Get Tough
Wouldn't it be nice if life were always positive, satisfying, and calm? Yet the nature of the whole Catastrophe of life in all its glory is that there will be downs as well as ups. The good news is that when there is a downfall and things get tough, there are some actions you can take that will help you cope better. Read on to find out what they are, below.
Accepting your feelings
This one sounds easier than it is, but it can be an effective way to move through difficult feelings and times. It's all about acknowledging what we are feeling without trying to push it away or without judging it. The issue here is that so many of us have been taught to think of certain feelings as bad, and when they crop up, it's almost automatic that we try to get rid of them.
However, when we choose to pause and truly accept those feelings, we get a better understanding that they are just temporary visitors, and that while true for us in the moment, they may not always reflect a genuine sense of reality.
One of the most effective things about accepting our feelings is that it allows us to learn to be compassionate with ourselves, and allows for the negative range of emotions as well as the positive. This can be helpful as we learn to permit ourselves to struggle, thus removing all the judgment we pile on ourselves when going through a tough time.
Talk with a person you trust
Something as simple as talking to someone you trust can be hugely effective when going through a tough time. Indeed, by having a conversation about what you are going through and feeling you can help alleviate some of the emotional pressure that you are feeling. You will also get the sense of being connected with others who care about you, reinforcing the feeling that you are not on your own.
Try some healthy self-care
Being caring towards yourself can help make a tough time a little easier to bear, and healthy self-care activities are great for this. What this means is, instead of ordering an XL pizza and eating the whole thing, why not try some healthier activities that are designed to relax your body? One such activity is having a warm bath, as this can help relax tense muscles and help you feel calmer. It can also give you some alone time to think, or do something else relaxing, like listen to music or read.
Many people also find massage a helpful and healthy self-care activity. Again, this is because it's designed to reduce the levels of physical stress and tension in the body. The great thing about this is that feeling less stressed physically feeds into the mind-body loop, signalling to your brain that you can relax too.
Look after your physical health
It really is amazing how much difference staying healthy physically can make to our mood and our ability to manage difficult times when they inevitably do occur. Indeed, exercise provides a wealth of benefits, from stress relief improves sleep, and even releases endorphins which can help improve our moods.
Limit any negative inputs
These days, it's so easy to find ourselves doomscrolling on social media, taking in more and more negativity without having any real opportunity to process it. This can place a huge strain on the mind, as the brain reacts in a very similar way to perceived threats as it does to real ones.
That is why when you are going through a tough time, it can be very useful to limit your online activity. To do this, you may pick up a hobby that requires you to keep your hands busy so you are less likely to access your phone. For example, knitting, crochet, embroidery, and jigsaw puzzles all require you to put your phone down to complete.
Seek out professional therapy
Sometimes when we are going through a tough time, what we really need is the help of a trained professional. Indeed, such a professional can help us develop healthy coping strategies and support our long-term emotional well-being.
Finding the right therapist is crucial to the success of the process. That is why it's worth looking for an inclusive practice like Clayre Sessoms Psychotherapy that offers online counselling options. Then you can access therapy sessions at a time, location and in the way that suits you best. Something that will help to make them much more effective over the long term.
Build health habits, daily
When things are tough, it can also help to build small habits into each day that provide you with positivity and support. One such habit is to start your mornings with intention, whether that's reciting affirmations in the mirror or writing down how you live out your specific values in your planner.
Gratitude can also be helpful here. In fact, writing down just three things a day that you are grateful for can help nudge your perspective into a more positive frame of mind, making it easier to boost your emotional outlook.
Also, starting the day with smaller tasks that you can complete easily will give you a sense of positivity and achievement that can help motivate you and keep you going for the rest of the day.
Last of all, be sure to use flexibility in your daily habits. For example, it's better to work out gently for 10 minutes, on a day when you aren't feeling physically strong, than to skip your workout entirely.
Remember that this, too, shall pass
Last of all, it can be helpful to think of life as having seasons, and just like the seasons on our planet, they move and change over time. This is the idea that all experiences in life do eventually pass and change, and that nothing lasts forever, even the bad stuff. This belief can be very helpful when life is tough because it can support us in remembering that these tough times will not last forever, and brighter days will come around again.
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