Opinion
Counselor offers difficult time tips
December 2, 2010
Here are some tips for deal with difficult times:
- Exercise reduces stress and fends off depression.
- Volunteering is an anti-depressant.
- A hobby is an energizing obsession.
- Learn from your past—don’t live there.
- You can think about the future but you can’t live there. Be present.
- Slow down. Do one thing at a time and watch anxiety disappear.
- Bad feelings get better when you start to speak about them.
- Exercise teaches your body and mind how to handle stress.
- Practice saying “NO” so you can be your own person.
- Listening to others is an act of love. Judge less/speak less.
- Needy people unintentionally push friends away.
- Suicidal thinking means you are depressed. Get help and feel safe again.
- Be proactive. Turn thoughts into action.
- Mistakes are how you learn. Make them.
- Choice—you always can make change in your life.
- Don’t make drugs and alcohol the most important thing in your life.
- It’s ok to feel lonely once in a while.
- Accept yourself separate from your accomplishments.
- Practice acceptance of the duality (good and bad) in others and yourself.
- Be flexible and you will survive change.
- Cynicism is what passes for insight amongst the mediocre.
- Worrying about things doesn’t stop them from happening.
- Avoidance of difficult things only works in the short-term.
- Emotional dependency makes slaves out of us—trust yourself.
- Suffering through hard times will make us wiser.
- Living well is the best revenge.
- Vacations work.
- Who am I/why am I here = Spirituality.
- Give to givers, retreat from takers.
- Conquer your fears and start living.
Call 715-425-3884 to make a free and confidential appointment with a licensed UWRF student mental health counselor.
Mark Huttemier is a student mental health counselor at UW-River Falls.