The more life experience I have, the more I learn and change. Sometimes those learning experiences are through positive experiences and sometimes they are much more difficult to get through. We all have our own scars don’t we? Most of us have been or will go through many stressful experiences within our lifetimes. This can include the loss of a loved one, experiencing a violent act, serious illness of ourselves or loved ones, and more. It’s sad to think that this is a common part of life, but learning how to effectively recover from a stressful experience or traumatic event will go a long way in making it easier to move forward.
We all respond in different ways and it can be difficult to notice signs of these stressors in other people. You may feel irritable, anxious or depressed. You may even withdraw from others. Many people end up living in denial to protect themselves from the emotional impact of the event. A lack of sleep, changes in appetite and withdrawal from daily activities are also common symptoms. But what can we do to cope?
Coping Immediately After
Stay Social:
It’s important to stay close to friends or relatives after a traumatic event. Develop a support system! Whether it’s to obtain a different perspective on the situation, or simply for comfort, keep people around you if possible. There will probably be certain people in your life that you connect with more during this time than others. That’s okay! You need to spend time with those who you feel most comfortable with. Don’t feel that you need to force yourself to spend time with those that may cause you more stress or anxiety.
Avoid Substances:
Be wary of alcohol, pharmaceuticals and other mood causing chemicals. They can serve to dull the experience. It doesn’t allow you to properly deal with your feelings. Try to avoid these substances if you recognize you are using them as an emotional escape. In the same light, stimulants such as coffee, soft drinks, and cigarettes should also be avoided, as they can cause you to feel anxious. Even natural supplements and products can come with their own set of risks. For example, there are dangers to using terpenes that those who are considering getting concentrates to dilute into their own oils should be aware of so they can make sure that they use them safely. Though, of course, these substance should be used with caution, and not be a replacement for getting proper help managing your mental health.
Sleep When You Can:
If you’re struggling, tossing and turning in bed, don’t try to fight it. Get up and do something else until you feel tired. Try natural methods to help you relax before bed. Try herbal tea, lavender candle or scented bath and avoiding electronics because light can affect sleep patterns.
Eat Right and Exercise:
These two tasks may be extremely difficult to do but will go a long way in keeping your mind in the right space, releasing tension and burning off stress and anxiety.
Reflect and Meditate:
A stressful event can have a significant impact on your mental and spiritual health and can leave disturbing thoughts that will haunt you day and night. That’s why reflection and meditation are essential to cope after distressing events. Reflecting on the event allows you to unpack your feelings and thoughts after the experience while meditation helps you come to terms with them and move forward. When reflecting and meditating, it helps to create a sacred space, where you feel safe and secure to let go of everything that burdens you. You can equip your sacred space with items that bring comfort and security, such as aromatic copal resin incense, a cozy mat, soft pillows, and soothing music.
Moving Forward
Here are some things you can do during the days and weeks that follow your life stress:
Continue Staying Social:
If anyone offers their help, keep an open mind and listen to what they have to say. Don’t be afraid to talk about the event with others. It will help you let out your feelings and understand them. If you are feeling open to it, you can search out ways to educate, help, and support others going through a similar experience to what you experienced.
Get Back on Track:
Focus on getting back into your routine as soon as you can. A familiar routine can help you cope. This will help you stay productive enough to support your mental and physical health.
If another individual or organization is to blame for your or your loved one’s traumatic experience, it’s important to resolve the issue before it’s too late. This especially applies to situations such as medical negligence, where you might be entitled to compensation. If this is your situation, here’s an in-depth guide to claiming medical negligence.
Coping in the Future
Add Value:
Keep pursuing things that add value to your life, such as advocacy, volunteer work, religion, or fun and relaxing hobbies to enjoy in your spare time. There are so many options to find one that works for you.
Breathe:
This piece of advice might be common, but it really does work. If a flashback or reminder of the traumatic event comes to mind, give yourself a few minutes alone, take a few slow breaths and remember that you are okay and you were able to get through it.
Many people have experienced traumatic events in their lives, only to continue living happily and healthily afterwards. Consider speaking to a professional about your trauma, as they will better understand your personal circumstances and how to best help you to cope.