Life can be unpredictable, and it can make you go through situations almost impossible to bear. Such life events can cause tremendous amounts of stress, which can take its toll on your mental and physical health, especially if you don’t deal with them properly. While taking care of yourself and those around you when things get tough should be your priority, sometimes it can feel like you’re unable to do anything. Perhaps the suggestions below can be a starting point for some recovery when you find yourself in some of the most stressful life events.
Death of a loved one
The worst thing that can happen to a person is losing their child, spouse, or close family member. Death is something that most people cannot easily accept and something that can tear a person down so that it seems that they’ll never be able to pick themselves up again. However, there are certain things you can do to get some comfort. Surrounding yourself with those you love and who care about you is one thing. Perhaps they have suffered through your loss as well and are most likely the ones who will understand you best and who will be there to listen to you and help you adjust to the new reality, as excruciating as it might seem to you. Forcing yourself to go outside and walk or engage in any physical activity is another way to lift yourself a bit. Also, finding a mental-care professional, identifying your emotions and talking about them can be therapeutic, which is why this is something you should seriously consider.
Divorce
Even in those cases where you were in a toxic marriage, where nothing really worked anymore and that you couldn’t wait to get out of, a divorce is an extremely stressful thing to go through. In many cases, not only are you divorcing your ex-spouse but their family and closest friends as well. The situation is much more complicated when there are children involved, as you’ll want to put their needs and feelings before your own. Although divorce rates in countries like Australia have dropped significantly in the last 20 years compared to their peak in the 1970s, they are still high, and about 50% of divorces include children. This is why, if you’re Australian, finding an experienced family lawyer in Sydney is crucial, as they’ll help you go through this process as painlessly as possible and with an understanding of what you are experiencing. You’ll need your lawyer to deal with the legal things so that you can focus on you and your children’s wellbeing without wasting energy on things you don’t have to. After that, try to find some stability and adjust yourself to the new situation by leaning on your friends and family to get the emotional support you need.
Moving home
It might seem that moving can’t really be nearly as stressful as the other events mentioned here, but in reality, it can cause huge amounts of stress. First of all, there is a lot of work to do when moving from one place to another, which takes a lot of time and patience and is sometimes challenging to achieve with all your regular obligations. Second, don’t forget that, when moving, you’re not merely getting accustomed to a new living space, but you’re also changing your neighbourhood. In many cases, moving encompasses a whole range of adjustments you’ll have to make. For instance, some people have to live in a completely different country, which means a new culture and a new language. Even if you’re only moving to a new town, you’ve still torn away from everything and everyone you know, having to adapt to a new workplace, a new school, or even something so mundane as a new coffee house. Stepping that far outside your comfort zone can be trying for anybody. For these reasons, it might be smart to make thorough plans and a lot of research before you move so that you’re somewhat familiar with your new surroundings. Introduce yourself to your new neighbours and take a long walk around to soak in as much as you can so that you can relax a little and get a hint of your new living location.
Illness
Learning that you have a life-threatening illness or that you’ve been seriously injured can cause severe stress. Just being aware that your illness is potentially terminal or life-changing is plenty to deal with, but that’s just the beginning. Many of these illnesses cause discomfort and pain. Others require you to make huge lifestyle changes, all of which can be exhausting both physically and mentally. Also, becoming aware of how long your treatment might last and how strenuous it will most likely be can be additionally disheartening. What you can do in such circumstances is find as much information as possible about your condition, go through every available resource to find a suitable treatment for yourself and visit more than one doctor, since a second opinion is something you are entitled to. Talk to your close friends and family about what’s troubling you and maybe even find a support group nearby so that you can get in contact with people who are going through the same thing as you, or those who have managed to recover fully so that you get a more positive perspective of what life can be for you.
No matter how affected, you are by the stressful events in your life. You should always do whatever is in your power to recover. Some people love you and depend on you, people who need and want you in their lives and who will be happy to help you overcome your current situation. Don’t hesitate to reach out to them. Last but not least, take things one step at a time and allow yourself to heal.