When things beyond our control happen, it could have a negative effect on our emotional well-being. People emotionally recovering from disasters, for instance, end up with a lot of symptoms. Any experience that’s as emotionally harrowing as a disaster could have the same effect on your emotional state.
What happens when you’re faced with a problem or issue or experience you can’t take in? That you can’t emotionally process, or one you have a hard time understanding and accepting? How do you cope? Here are some of the ways you can help yourself recover emotionally:
#1 You’ll need time to adjust
Make sure you give yourself enough time to process, deal, and understand the experience. Let it sink it. Don’t try to rush yourself. Don’t try to say you’re all right when you aren’t. Being okay takes time.
#2 Get support
You won’t be able to do this on your own. Seek out emotional support from family and friends. Knowing they’ve got your back often makes a huge positive difference in your recovery. Also, family and friends can be a great source of objectivity. If you feel you can’t logically think things through, asking someone for a second or third opinion about issues or problems that bother you can help you process the problem and your emotions better.
#3 Talk about it
Don’t bottle it all up, thinking the hurt, anguish, shame, guilt or pain will go away. Repression will only make the emotions keener, sharper, more powerful. One way to get them under control is to talk about them. For instance, if you’re suffering from emotional abuse, talking about the experience is an important step in your recovery.
#4 Finding a professional
If you aren’t quite ready to talk to family or friends, then seek out counselling services. With the help of a trained professional, you can get to the bottom of things sooner. Find a good psychologist to start with. Don’t forget to check qualifications and certifications before you start. It would be better if you talk to a professional who has experience treating people with the same condition or experience you do. Since you can expect to go to more than one session, finding a clinic that’s ideally situated—not more than an hour’s drive away—is also key. Also, make sure you pick someone you feel comfortable with.
Dr. Linda Johnston and her team are registered with the College of Psychologists of Ontario and highly experienced in providing psychotherapy and counselling services in Burlington, Ontario. Visit them online to schedule an appointment at drlindajohnston.com. You can connect with them on Google+ for further updates!
