Excerpted from "A Year of Health Hints"
365 Practical Ways to Feel Better and Live Longer
If you're going through a crisis, your view of the world
probably isn't too rosy. Sudden, sometimes unexplainable events
like loss of a job, death of a loved one, or illness or injury
throw people into an emotional abyss. It's a crowded abyss, too:
The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that in any
six-month period, nearly 30 million Americans face some kind of
crisis.
Much of the stress triggered by a crisis arises from our
perception of the event--whether we view a crisis as a challenge
or a threat, an opportunity or a ticket to doom. Here are some
skills that are useful for putting crises into perspective and
surviving with minimal damage to emotional health.
Visualize the
future in positive, healing ways. Imagine yourself feeling good
again and being
happy. When people
imagine themselves behaving in a particular way, the likelihood
that things
will turn out as
expected increases.
Learn to
physically relax, using any of the techniques described at the
beginning of this chapter. It's
hard to feel tense
when your body is completely relaxed.
Be realistic when
you describe your situation to yourself and others. Avoid
exaggerating or using
emotionally charged
words like "never," "always," or
"hate."
Take one day at a
time. Set goals you can measure and achieve, and don't demand too
much of yourself.
Don't allow
yourself to get bogged down in self-pity, but be willing to
accept help from others. Love,
friendship, and social
support are powerful coping tools for managing stress.
Remember, you're
not alone. Whatever you're going through, others have experienced
and survived.
You will, too.