How to Deal When You Have To Start Over

Any life changing event can be traumatic. The loss of a loved one, a break up, finally being able to leave an abusive relationship: all of these thing and more have turned everyone's lives upside down at one point or another. Having to start over can be extremely difficult, and every day we discover that less and less people are able to deal with it. Perhaps, if everyone shared their personal roads to recovery, other people might believe that they can begin to piece together one of their own.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Yourself
• Your determination to walk the rest of the way through the 'storm', whatever it may be.
• A good support system, and that includes supporting yourself!

1. Breathe. Be proud of yourself. After all, here you are! Your next step is just as difficult however, and it's going to take strength and resolve. Spend time building up your own self worth through meditation, daily affirmations, and focusing in on your faith. Feeling good about yourself leads to believing you'll make it through, and that's healthy.
2. Find a support system. If you have no family, or if you have family that are unable to support you (it happens), there are literally thousands and thousands of places and websites that can point you in the right direction. Self-help groups, seminars, and other get togethers where everyone knows what you're going through. Lean on them, they'll lean on you, and the road back to normalcy will become easier.
3. Don't be afraid to seek help. Alot of times, people think that bring in a therapist or a psychiatrist makes them crazy. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Sometimes it's good to just talk it out. It might not take everything away for good, but it can certainly serve as a great way to vent and get better control.
4. Follow your dreams. If you think about it, there really couldn't be a better time. You starting over, right? Take the time to assess your dreams. Go back to when you were a little kid and think about what you wanted to be when you 'grew up'. If it was a rockstar, pick up a guitar and start learning. If you wanted to be a writer, well...we're in a day and age where there are more than enough places to get your writing out there. Following your dreams makes the sting of having to start over alot more bearable, because now, you're doing it on your terms.
5. Treat yourself, and indulge your inner child. Seriously, read up on inner child indulgence, it has actually been written that it's good for your mental health! I am a firm believer in it, I indulge my inner child often! Whether it's picking up a coloring book, having a messy arts and crafts hour, or taking a trip to Disney World: it helps. Congratulate yourself daily, by rewarding yourself with a bath, a night out at the movies, or a special dinner for you!

Tips & Warnings

• Believe that you can handle change. Accept it, and things won't seem so overwhelming.
• Don't be afraid to seek help. So many people are experiencing what you're going through, whether in the past or at the same time you are. That's a definite. So don't make yourself go through it alone.
• Find Aromatherapy - the art of using smells to heal and relax is a beautiful thing. It gives a great assist to meditation and all of these things help you find balance, strength, and positive energy.