You Are Not Alone
Going through a difficult patch at some point in your life is more common than you think, but people often feel like they are completely alone, even when surrounded by others.
Life has ups and downs for us all. It does not discriminate on age, gender, status, education, or wealth. And whist some people appear to have more ‘bad luck’ than others, it is important to know that you are not in this alone.
Whether it is down to grief, loss, trauma, abuse, mental health, addiction, substance misuse or something else, there is support waiting for you in various forms, you just need to acknowledge how you can tap into that support and navigate your way safely back to shore.
You are not the first to experience this
Whatever difficult situation you are going through, you are unlikely to be the first ever person going through this.
Lots of others will have gone through a similar experience and come out the other side – let these people give you hope and guidance. Others will be still be in the thick of it, and these can be a great mutual support network.
There are lots of support groups, forums, and online communities where people share their experiences and support others through the same thing.
Try searching online or ask around for local support groups (libraries and GP surgeries are good places to ask about local groups).
You will not be the last to experience this
Just like you are unlikely to be the first to experience this, you are also unlikely to be the last to experience this.
Maybe you could use your experience to guide and support others, or even to campaign for change.
Some of the most impactful small charities have come out of some sort of adversity.
Take the Suzy Lamplugh Trust as an example, a charity offering information and support on lone working, personal safety and stalking, set up by the parents of Suzy Lamplugh who completely disappeared one day at work as an estate agent in 1986. She was never found and was presumed murdered. Her parents threw themselves into helping prevent the same thing happening to others.
People do care
With people around you busy with their own lives, it can sometimes feel like you must deal with everything alone as you do not want to bother them or ‘bring them down’.
But the truth is that they do care and will listen if you open-up and be honest with them about what you are experiencing and how you are feeling.
There are also a few ways you can connect with others and feel more positive without having to tell them anything about how you are feeling.
Sometimes just spending time with a friend going for a walk or having a natter is all you need to see things in a different light.
Take care of yourself
When we’re suffering or stuck in survival mode, it can be easy to neglect our own health and wellbeing but taking care of yourself can be key in changing how you deal with your problems.
Self-care is vital and it could be something as simple as taking 20 minutes to sit down with a cuppa and a magazine or having a relaxing bath.
Professional help is available
For many, getting professional therapy is what helps them turn a corner with their emotional problems.
Never be ashamed of needing some help, you don’t need to do it all alone, the benefits of counselling are well regarded and can offer you many coping strategies you can use to live more positively going forwards.
As a fully trained psychotherapist and experienced counsellor I can help you develop new ways of thinking to help you move past the issues that are getting you down.
I offer confidential counselling in a comfortable space, and this can be done remotely if needed.
If you’d like to book a counselling session or find out more, you can contact me here.
