Years ago, a devastating event could take place in our lives or the wider world and we would be able to take the time to make sense of it and recover from it. These days it seems we are being asked to make sense and recover from multiple devastating events in our lives and the wider world in quick succession or all at the same time. In recent times, we have held in our thoughts, the war in the Ukraine, a referendum on the Voice to Parliament and now a war and atrocities happening in Gaza and Israel, on top of the instabilities in our own lives like financial uncertainty, cost of living, lingering effects of the pandemic and a possible summer of bushfires.
With all that is going on around us how do we maintain our sense of wellbeing?
What is Wellbeing?
First up, let's define wellbeing...
Psychology Today defines wellbeing as "the experience of health, happiness and prosperity. It includes having good mental health, high life satisfaction, a sense of meaning or purpose, and the ability to manage stress".
As humans, we have an amazing ability to hold many different and opposing emotions at the same time. We can experience feelings shock and devastation, sadness and compassion for the people living in war as well as feelings of gratitude that we live in a country not experiencing such atrocities. We have the ability to experience feelings of fear of financial insecurity and feelings of joy when spending time with friends or family. Often we get caught up in one emotion, however, it is important to remember that we have the ability to hold many emotions at the same time.
How do we maintain our sense of wellbeing?
So how do we maintain our sense of wellbeing on a daily basis when everything is going on around us?
Watch the news/Don't watch the news
It's important to be informed and to be aware of what is happening in the world, and it's also important not to become engrossed in what is happening. Remember when we watched the rolling coverage of the bushfires at the end of 2019. Then we swiftly moved into rolling news coverage of the pandemic and we called a morning press conference Gladys O'Clock...
Some people say don't watch the news. It's important to stay informed but not to become consumed. When we become consumed and absorb rolling coverage of what is happening, feelings of fear, anxiety, uncertainty and helplessness increase. Sometimes the only action you can take is not watching the same film clip over and over.
Talk about it/Don't talk about it
Similarly to watching the news, it's good to talk about what is happening with others, share our thoughts and feelings on it, but is also important for the events to not be the only topic of conversation. Talking about the every day and bringing the focus back to our own lives is healthy. It doesn't mean that you don't care about what is happening to other people, it means that you acknowledge it and also know that you have your own life to live. Sometimes we can be consumed with guilt or feelings of helplessness when we don't talk about the events taking place. Feelings of helplessness can be overcome by identifying some actions you can take. If you are religious or spiritual, prayer can help. For others, making a financial donation to a reputable organisation providing aid to citizens being impacted can reduce feelings of helplessness.
Bring it back to you
The tips mentioned above help us to bring our day to day life back to us. We can acknowledge the devastating events happening, and also recognise that we have a life that is still going on and that we need to live. We have work that needs to be done, meals to be made, a family to care for and bills to be paid. Asking yourself, what can I do today or right now is a great question to ask yourself. Emotions of sadness and depression and fear and anxiety are increased and heightened when we take our focus off the here and now. This practice is known as mindfulness. I'm not suggesting you sit and meditate, just sit quietly and bring your thoughts and focus back to yourself and the present moment.
Do something you enjoy
When we engage in activities we enjoy we can often get lost in the flow. When you do something you enjoy, your positive energy increases and you feel better about yourself and what is happening in your life. If you can do something you enjoy with other people it's even better. Having a sense of community is also important during challenging times. Before the Covid-19 pandemic I ran a craft group. When we all went into lockdown, I increased the frequency of the catch ups and moved them online. It was important to maintain connections, a sense of community and a creative outlet.
When should you reach out or engage a mental health professional?
Sometimes we need help from a professional who may be a counsellor, psychotherapist or psychologist.
If you experience any of the following you may benefit from the services of a mental health professional
a stressful or traumatic event
feel more upset, anxious or sad than usual
feel agitated, irritable or angry
feel less motivated
changes in appetite and sleep patterns
difficult to get through the day
feel stuck or overwhelmed
using alcohol or other substances more than usual or turning to other unhelpful coping behaviours.
Meagan Johnson is a social worker, psychotherapist, counsellor, homeopath and massage therapist who is committed to your physical and emotional wellbeing.
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