Tips for getting through a crisis

​I've been through a few crises. And, as a counsellor, I've helped many people through many crises. This is the first time in my lifetime we've all been affected by a major crisis at the same time. The first pandemic of a few generations.

I remember my maternal Grandma speaking about World War 2. I asked her how she coped. She said they just did what they needed to do and got on with it. We do adapt. We will get through this.

In the meantime, here are some tips to help:

1. Go easy on yourself– we’re all processing so much right now.
2. Go easy on others– they’re processing stuff too and could be in a very different emotional place to you.
3. Acceptance– acknowledge whatever you are feeling right now. It’s ok for things to hurt sometimes. If you feel good in the middle of all this, that’s ok too. Notice how you’re feeling and let it be.
4. Support– if this all feels too much in any way, do get support, whether from a friend, family GP or helpline. There is always support out there somewhere. Writing down what support we have can be beneficial too. Make a list of people and/or helplines that feel good to you.
5. Focus on what is helpful– if a news source or social media platform is making you feel worse, cut it out for a bit. It’s important to know what’s happening, but only to the point it is useful.
6. Focus too on right now– if our thoughts are spiralling to the future or past, coming to the here and now can help. What is actually going on in this moment? Often when we let go of the past and future, and bring our minds to the present, we can feel a lot different.
7. Insight – what thoughts/perspectives/ideas feel useful to focus on right now? If there’s a particular thought that feels good, write it down somewhere and repeat to yourself as needed.
8. Journaling– writing down how we feel can make a huge difference. Keeping a journal can make a positive difference to our mental wellbeing, particularly during a difficult time. It could be daily, weekly, or just when you feel like it. We don’t need to write reams, just a few words or even a picture to represent what’s going on for us. 
9. Bring your focus to what you can control– often when we’re in a crisis we worry about so much that is out of our control (e.g. logarithmic graphs, Boris’s tie collection, the number of loo rolls people are buying). Focussing on what we can control can shift how we feel. What can you control?
10. Self-care, self-care, self-care– it’s extra important to look after ourselves. It might be our usual ways of looking after ourselves have gone: find others, whether an online exercise video, quiet bath or cup of tea with a friend on a video call, whatever works for you.
11. Remind yourself of your inner resources – what inner powers have you shown before that will help you through this? Resilience, courage, adaptability, a good sense of humour, tenaciousness? We all have strengths that will help right now.
12. Remember – this too will pass. We will get through this. Whatever pain is experienced, somehow, we will learn from this and, one day, come out to a better place. Hang on in there.

 
Wherever you are today in all this, hoping this blog helps. 

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