Managing emotionally challenging situations can be hard, no doubt. Draining and heartbreaking even. But dealing with tough and emotionally challenging situations IS possible, as long as you know how to go about it in the right way. These principles can help you stay sane in difficult circumstances.
From time to time, everyone faces challenging situations that evoke negative emotions. One such situation with which I often work in my clinical psychology practice isย parental alienation, that is, the phenomenon of one parent attempting to turn the children against the other parent. The examples in this article are from folks facing that particular challenge.
Other upsetting situations that people face might be a failing business, difficult work colleagues, financial problems, marital hostilities,ย friendshipย disappointments,ย parentingย problems, painful illnessโthe list goes on and on.
Related: Parental Alienation Syndrome: What Is It, And Who Does It?
The 10 Mantras for Managing Emotionally Difficult Situations
I write elsewhere aboutย self-helpย techniques to deal with feeling down (depression), worried (anxiety), mad (anger), and addictive habits. By contrast, the 10 mantras below offer guidelines for staying effective vis-a-vis a broad range of tough emotions from feelings ofย stressย to feeling upset to feeling desperate.
Note again that while the specific examples I use to illustrate each mantra reference parental alienation, the mantras can be applied to any challenge where someone, a group, or the fates seem to be against you.
1. Think of yourself as a hero, not a victim.ย
โHow could s/he do this to me?โ is victim thinking. Itโs not necessarily about you; sometimes itโs about the pathology of the other. Instead of taking the problem personally, try focusing on the other. โS/heโs profoundly selfish. Poisonous. Heโs chronically resentful, selfish, mean, etc. Iโm the hero here, dedicated to solving the problem.โ
2. Put the oxygen mask on yourself first.ย
Listen to the stewardesses. Their airplane principle applies here as well. Take care of your personal emotional well-being. You need to be emotionally strong and healthy to be able to stand up effectively for your child.
3. Mistakes are for learning, not for berating yourself.ย
Beating yourself up is unnecessary and demoralizing: โI should have, why didnโt I, Iโm a (negative label).โ Instead, assume that everyone makes mistakes. Look for what each mistake can teach you.ย Mistakes are for learning.
Related: How To Overcome Difficult Situations In Life: 5 Simple Steps
4. Keep your focus on your strengths.ย
If you tend to have trouble liking yourself, ask a friend or family member to help you identify your strengths. Everyone has weaknesses.
Fine, figure out what you can do differently about these. At the same time, feel good about yourself like anย athleteย before a game in order to get out there and win.
5. For everything, there is a time.ย
Passivity generally makes problems worse. โWait and seeโ can be dangerous. At the same time, pick your battles.
With parental alienation, for instance, sometimes itโs best to do what you can with whatever small amount of time you are getting with your children rather than to bankrupt yourself with another court battle which you may again lose.
6. Build your team.ย
Brian Ludmer makes this point. Talk to your friends and family and enlist their help. In cases of alienation, your ex will attempt to turn the collateral people in your world against youโextended family members, teachers, doctors, therapists, coaches, etc. Invest time and energy in educating them.
Explain alienation, giving them articles to read, so that itโs not just he says/she says.
Related: 10 Healthy Ways To Get Through Difficult Times (Insights From Stoic Philosophy)
7. When necessary, declare victory and move on.ย
If necessary, declare your successes, e.g., โI put up an excellent fight through the court system. I feel good that I gave it my all.โ Then grieve, salvage what you can.
E..g. in an alienation case, gather your photos together and write up a journal of all you remember from when you did have a loving relationship with your children, and move on. All you can do is what you can do.
8. Knowledge is power.ย
The number of books and articles on psychological challenges, including alienation, has been exploding. Search the internet. For dealing with parental alienation, for instance, there are links to essential resourcesย here.
9. Make your problem your mission.ย
Pursuing a mission makes for a meaningful life. Join groups of folks who face similar challenges. In the case of alienation, help to spread the word about this surprisingly common yet little-known phenomenon. Convince your legislature to pass laws making alienation child abuse and maybe even criminal.
10. Enjoy being alive.ย
Suffering seldom helps the problem. If anything, suffering makes mobilizing to fight your battles, whatever they might be, more difficult. An alienated parentโs suffering does not help the alienated child(ren).
Allow yourself instead to live the other parts. Enjoy your work, nurture your loving relationships, engage in activities that energize you. Positive energy leads to positive solutionsโor at least increases the odds you will find your way to positive outcomes.
Related: Narcissism in Parental Alienation: Clarifying Examples
Next steps
In my bookย Prescriptions Without Pills,ย I offer coping strategies specific to depression, anger, and anxiety, plus further ideas for maintaining well-being. Iโve also posted free videos and handouts on combatting negative emotionsย hereย andย here.
The bottom line is that life is too short to spend it suffering. Better to find your way back to sunshine.
Written By Susan Heitler Originally Appeared On Psychology Today
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