Right now I am in the middle of one of the most stressful times in my life. It is a situation that I cannot control and I have to handle it - one week at a time, one day at a time and sometimes, one hour at a time. I don't know if you have experienced this type of stress, or if you are like me, going through it as we speak, but here are my six strategies for change that can help you make it to the next chapter of your life.
There are positive and negative stressors that can through you out of balance in your life if you let them accumulate and overwhelm you. The impact of stress on your body and mind can have long term effects such as inhibiting your body's ability to stay healthy, placing you at a higher risk for illness or injury. Your mental health can be affected as well. By becoming preoccupied, worried or focused on the future instead of the present, it is much more difficult to concentrate on the present moment, impacting the here and now. If you feel that your emotions are causing you to feel uncomfortable and out of control, consider these six strategies for helping you through a rough time.
Take care of your body. Eat well, sleep well, exercise to discharge stress and refrain from harmful habits such as smoking, excessive drinking, recreational drugs or other risky behaviors.
Take care of your mind. Stay in the present moment by practicing deep breathing and/or meditation. Challenge your negative thinking and keep things in perspective.
Express your emotions in healthy ways. Share them with a therapist and people you trust. Vent your negative feelings by pounding a pillow, banging on a drum, or writing down your worries and feelings.
Treat others well. Strengthen your good relationships so that you can draw on their support, and work on your challenging relationships so they do not add to your stress.
Take charge. Be proactive and prepare the best you can for changes that might come, but then accept the reality of the moment. Think back to the other challenges you have come through and remind yourself that you have made it through tough times in the past, and you will once again work through this, too.
Seek help when necessary. Look for ways to find answers by asking for advice, finding experts in their fields, and getting the necessary people that are in your corner in place. No one can fight alone.
Overall, keep in mind that as we go through life, everything changes over time. We get up to a new dawn each morning. Change can open new doors to a bright future, if you allow yourself to be open to the possibilities. Better self care will see you through the storm, so you can navigate to better health and coping skills in the future.
Credit: Based on information from "Coping with Change" by Baptist Hospital Behavioral Health
AS/DC - Anne St. John, Down the Rabbit Hole Psychic Readings. www.AnneStJohn.com