Advice for dealing with your personal storm

Our whole region woke up Tuesday to survey what happened after the big storm on Monday — broken branches, closed roads, and some unfortunate injuries are all in the news.

I couldn’t help but to see this storm metaphorically, as well. There are several people I know right now who are going through major storms in their personal lives. Some are health related, some are emotional, but all of them are living in some kind of pain.

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I want you to know that I feel for you. I just went through one of the roughest periods of my life in the last few years. Turns out, getting a divorce is not that much fun. Who knew? When I was in it, it seemed like it would never end. But things finally started to get better.

Hopefully I won’t come across as a cheap Hallmark card, but to all of you who are still in your own private storm right now, hang in there. You are stronger than you realize. It will get better for you. I’m confident of that.

Advice for weathering the storm

Here’s some things that you already know, but I’ll remind you of them anyway.

There is someone in this world that loves and cares about you. Lean on them. Don’t be too proud to tell them you are struggling.

Create a plan when you are feeling OK that you can invoke when you start to become overwhelmed and anxious. When I feel that ball of anxiety in my chest, I remember to breath, do a 5 minute guided mediation, and find one thing that I can be grateful for. Even though I don’t feel like it, exercise helps. Come up with your own emergency plan, and do it.

Wherever you find yourself right now, start to make good choices. If you’ve been finding solace in a destructive behaviors like over eating or taking a substance, replace it with something constructive. Just make a few better choices today than you did yesterday.

Go help someone else. Getting out in the world and finding someone you can help will make you feel better.

And finally, don’t be afraid to get professional help. Talk to a councilor, go get some treatment, or just read a self help book. I found some podcasts that gave me companionship during my darkest times.

Being in the storm is not fun. It’s super scary and destructive and it feels like it will never end. Be strong, be brave. You got this.

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