How to Move on After a Painful Event

Painful events can cause emotional and psychological trauma, which can take a toll on your overall mental health and well-being. Painful events can include auto accidents, career-ending sports injuries, a violent attack, natural disaster, surgery, death of a loved-one, a break-up or other major life changes. It can take time to recover from these painful events. You may feel numb, stressed, depressed, disconnected or like you are unable to trust the people around you. Painful events require treatment and support.

Instructions

• 1

  Talk about your painful event. Ask for the support of family members or friends. Avoid withdrawing from others and discuss your problem with them instead. Explain how it made you feel, what you are feeling now and what you may think you need to do to recover.

• 2

  Join a support group and talk to the people in the group who may have survived or are going through the same type of trauma you are enduring. Learning how other people have coped and are coping with traumatic events can help you deal with your own feelings about the painful event you experienced.

• 3

  Talk to a counselor or other mental health professional. Talking with a professional can help you face and deal with your problems in a way that you are comfortable with. A mental health professional can also provide objective advice and guidance for you as you deal with your painful event.

• 4

  Take care of yourself. Eat healthy and get plenty of sleep and exercise. Avoid the temptation to stress eat or resort to alcohol or drug use. Substance abuse can worsen depression, stress and isolation symptoms.

• 5

  Resume your daily activities. Find a sense of normalcy after dealing with a painful event. Stick to your regular schedule if possible. Attend school, work and allow time for social events.

• 6

  Find an outlet for your stress. Take an exercise class, read a book or take a walk when you feel overwhelmed.