When the tough times roll around, it’s always tricky to know how to react. It’s easy to get overwhelmed and lose track of what matters. Anyone dealing with hardship should explore different tips for managing emotions through difficult experiences. It’s important to remember that many people have walked similar arduous paths and have left clues on how to come out the other side stronger and ready to return to everyday life.
Take Time to Pause
When you’re beginning to feel overwhelmed by emotion, don’t try and push it off or distract yourself. Instead, move to a safe place and come to a full stop. Massaging the eyes and temples and doing deep breathing help release the buildup of stress. As you practice stopping to release tension, you will gradually become more adept at noticing the approach of unwanted waves of emotion and can preemptively practice mindfulness and breathing techniques.
Accept Emotions Without Judgement
Among the tips for managing emotions through difficult experiences, few tips matter as much as accepting your feelings. While bouts of anxiety, sadness, or anger may feel foreign, they are entirely natural. We may not enjoy them, but it’s still a part of being human. It’s essential to accept that these feelings are happening. Trying to push them off or repress them will only cause you more stress and will likely lead to a more serious emotional situation later.
Take on New Healthy Habits
A new routine is sometimes exactly what you need to take your mind off what’s bothering you. Some of the best grief coping methods center around attending to what’s around you. Take a good look at your eating and exercise habits. Poor performance in these areas are well known to impact how we feel both physically and emotionally. What’s more, getting out and trying a new hobby is a great way to spend quality time around loved ones and meet new people. Consider taking up a relaxing routine of a simple walk or bike ride to take time away from the pressures of the same surrounding walls.
Set Aside Time to Decompress
One of the most important things anyone can do to help their mental health is remembering to take time for themselves. Whatever hobby, show, or activity you love needs attention when you’re at your lowest. Remembering the little things that bring you joy will help keep your mind off your troubles and give you much-needed room to heal. While sitting down to crochet or bake cookies may seem like a waste of time amidst all the stressors we deal with, it’s the hobbies and passions that set us aside and make us who we are.
