Don’t torture yourself by fixating on what caused the pain you’re suffering from. What has happened has already been done and cannot be undone. Going over it again and again in your mind will only make things worse for you. Ask yourself, what can you do now?
While suffering from emotional pain you may not even want to get out of bed. Yet, moving when you’re feeling down can give you energy and lift your spirits. Any type of physical movement can help you release the pain from your body. Go for a short walk, try yoga or dance to music.
If you are suffering from bullying and are uncomfortable asking for help, you can try asking a friend to come with you when you approach an adult. You might also want to write a note or an e-mail to a teacher or school counsellor about the issue.
If you simply can’t find a way to compromise with parents, you might find you have to ‘agree to disagree’. Remember that you can have your own opinions, based on your own experience, beliefs and values – whether or not you accept your parents’ or guardians’ views is up to you.
Listen to what your parents or guardians have to say and accept that their point of view may be as valid as yours. If talking to them seems impossible, it can be helpful to send an e-mail or write a letter, explaining how you feel. You can also try a mediator or family counselling.
The activity that you engage yourself in as a means of distraction should be both absorbing and interesting to you. Doing this thing should either require your full attention, or be so absorbing of your attention in its detail that you will forget yourself.
Distraction is a surprisingly effective technique for changing your mood. When you realise that you have become upset, choose to interrupt your negative mood by engaging in something that distracts you from what has upset you.
There’s no “one size fits all” way to feel comfortable and enough within ourselves. There are many different paths to the same destination, and the right path for us is the one that fits our values, feels truthful, and helps us connect with whom we truly are.
Gently challenge your inner critic by asking “Is that really true?”, “What are the other alternatives here?”, “How would I respond if my best friend was telling me this?” and “Who would I be without this belief? What would I do differently?”
Try a new hobby, something that you’ve always wanted to try or something that you know you love but haven’t made the time for. Create a vision board and paste images of everything that speaks to you. Use this to help you identify your interests and passions.