In December 2021, I had the privilege of starting therapy. I had desperately wanted to go since the start of my freshman year of college. The first couple of sessions were pretty much what I expected therapy to be like: you tell your therapist about your life and your problems, and they give you advice on how to deal with them.
Once we got to the fourth session, we stumbled upon a subject that hit me a little harder. I had never even realized that this event has stayed with me as a traumatic event until I had to talk about it out loud.
Obviously, during the therapy session, I felt anxiety and stress, but I thought that it would go away after, as the day went on. At the end of our session, my therapist told me that I would probably feel a bit of anxiety, anger, stress and sadness in the week following and honestly, I didn’t really believe her, but she was right.
In the week following, I felt all the emotions she had described, and I knew I needed to do something for myself to help me through the week. Here are some things I did that helped me, and maybe, next time you’re feeling overwhelmed and emotional, they can help you too!
1. Go somewhere that makes you happy.
When I realized the anxiety was going to persist, I decided I needed to go to the place that never fails to make me feel more relaxed, the beach. In fact, as I am writing this article, I am sitting in the car with the windows down looking at the ocean.
That first weekend after my difficult therapy session, I decided I would take myself to see the sunrise on Saturday morning and journal. After watching the sunrise at a lookout, I drove to the beach and sat on the sand and just watched the waves.
Now, this is just what works for me, your version could look completely different. The place that makes you happy could be a park, a library, a coffee shop, or the movies. It doesn’t matter where it is, as long as it makes sense to you.
2. Eat!!!!!
Now I know it can be difficult sometimes to remember to eat when you’re not feeling great and you probably don’t have an appetite, but you would be surprised how much a good meal can help your mood. It is important that you don’t restrict yourself when it comes to eating, give your body what it craves, whether that be a salad or some fast food.
Eat what will comfort you and not upset your body even more and go easy on yourself. The most important thing is to get your body some sustenance so it can keep you going.
One way I help myself get a healthy amount of meals a day is by meal prepping. At the beginning of the week, I will make enough dinners for myself to have for the whole week and buy quick things I can throw together for lunch. Doing this allows me to make sure I am eating well, saving money, and keeping my body fueled.
3. Take your hot girl walk.
It doesn’t necessarily need to be a walk but get some exercise. Last semester, I was not working out regularly and I was always stressed, tired, or just generally unhappy. This semester I have made a point of going almost every day, and I have noticed the biggest change in my mental health.
Your form of exercise does not need to be the gym. I didn’t go very much last semester because I didn’t like how crowded the gym would get, but slowly I have become more comfortable there. If going to the gym is going to be a stressor for you, pick something else. I suggest a walk. It doesn’t need to be strenuous, a walk around the block is all it takes to lift the mood.
4. Go outside.
I grew up playing outside therefore, being outside is one of my biggest stress relievers Anytime I am stressed, stepping outside and getting fresh air always clears my head. I love laying in the sun whenever I get a chance, listening to the birds and just soaking in the Vitamin D.
5. Do something that will make you happy.
Finally, allow yourself some time to do something that is going to make you happy. This could be in the form of a nap, cooking, retail therapy, or seeing friends. Personally, I love to combine all of the above tips by going to the beach and buying myself a latte before taking a walk along the sand and depending on my mood, I might invite a friend.
Ultimately, processing a traumatic event is not an easy thing. Making time for yourself will make the process a lot easier. I personally struggle with guilt when I don’t feel like I have had a productive enough day, so I have had to really work on allowing myself the time to take care of myself, which in turn has led to much more productive days.
Allowing yourself the space to heal is the best thing you can do for yourself, and it will make you a much better version of yourself in the end. Comment some of your tips and tricks for dealing with emotions of trauma with @HerCampusSJSU.