Bouncing Back From Difficult Times

How do you deal with the challenges of life? What makes you bounce back from life's difficulties and challenges? Do you depend on your friends for help; do you seek comfort in a hot cup of hot tea or coffee; do you reach out to family members for support? There are many ways depending on who we are and what our needs are. In this blog, I will discuss some of the personal tactics that have been helpful for me personally when trying to bounce back after a difficult time. It can be difficult to come back from something such as depression, but even small steps forward can make all the difference. I hope that this blog will encourage those experiencing difficulty and struggling with coming back or simply making progress in their lives. It is important to understand that treatment is most often a journey; you do not simply get over your depression but progress through the process.

I have been doing some personal recovery work over the last couple of years and I am now at a point where I feel that it is possible to bounce back. It was a long process, but the desire to do this was present early on, despite feeling exhausted and confused. This blog is an effort to explore all of my personal experiences with dealing with depression, loneliness, and being an individual who has experienced these things in life. I am not sure that I would have been able to bounce back without the support of my friends, family, and therapist. This blog has been an effort to organize my thoughts and experiences in a way that others can see how others deal with their lives.

There are many different ways to bounce back from difficulties in life. The important thing is to identify the best way that makes sense for you, as an individual. It may not be easy, but there are things that you can do. I know that when I was struggling with depression, there were times when I felt as though I was never going to get out of the rut. But, it is possible to make progress. It takes hard work, patience and perseverance. If you are feeling depressed or simply frustrated with life in general, it can be very helpful to look back on what you have done in the past that has helped you get through difficult times. This blog is about coming back from depression and life difficulties; it has been written for those who may be at a point where they are thinking about things differently or taking the first steps forward towards making progress in their lives.

These are the personal tactics that I have used to bounce back from difficult times.

1. Get Social: Life can be very isolating for those who experience depression and/or difficulties in their lives. At this time in my life, I am a single mother with two children and a great deal of work to do. It is important for me to make enough time to see friends and family regularly so that I am not alone in my struggles and have someone who can provide support when needed. See  http://www.depressionandloneliness.com/2014/02/bouncing-back-from-difficult-times-part-1/.

2. Read: Reading has always been vital to my recovery process. I love to read, especially on topics that are of interest to me. I have found that reading about a topic with the help of a professional book or website is often very helpful when trying to understand psychological or emotional issues. If you are struggling with depression, it can be helpful to start reading a book that might offer some understanding as well as some coping strategies. See  http://www.depressionandloneliness.com/2014/02/bouncing-back-from-difficult-times-part-2/.

3. Develop a plan: It is important to develop a plan for yourself based on your particular needs and desires. For example, my plan involves spending time with friends and family, setting personal goals, and spending time on things that were previously important to me. It is also important to keep a journal of things that are going on in your life. Writing can be a very helpful tool because it forces us to take a look at things in a more concrete way. See  http://www.depressionandloneliness.com/2014/02/bouncing-back-from-difficult-times-part-3/.

4. Attend Meetings: It is vital for people who are recovering from depression or loneliness to find support groups or meetings where they can connect with others who share similar struggles and issues in life. This is something I did not do early on in my recovery, but it was recommended to me by my therapist and I found this to be true. It is important to feel connected and part of a community; feeling isolated can be very difficult when going through the process of recovery from depression, loneliness or other issues in life. See  http://www.depressionandloneliness.com/2014/02/bouncing-back-from-difficult-times-part-4/.

5. Get Legal Help: This may not apply to everyone, but it is important to know that there are free legal services available for those who have experienced difficult situations in their lives. I discovered this when I was trying to collect child support from my ex-husband and did not know where to turn. It helped me immensely to find help from organizations such as Legal Aid Ontario and various local service providers. You do not need money, a big problem or legal issue in order to get help; you simply need to ask for it. See  http://www.depressionandloneliness.com/2014/02/bouncing-back-from-difficult-times-part-5/.

6. Get Physical: It can be very difficult to bounce back from any challenge in life. The physical body is a very vital part of the human experience; it allows us to interact with others and learn about ourselves. The physical body affects how we feel and how we function. See  http://www.depressionandloneliness.com/2014/02/bouncing-back-from-difficult-times-part-6/.

7. Make a Plan: It is important to have expectations, desires and goals for your own life. It can be very helpful to sit down at a table with pens and paper and create a plan for your life. Remember, the world is filled with people who are struggling with similar things. You are not alone in the struggles you face. See  http://www.depressionandloneliness.com/2014/02/bouncing-back-from-difficult-times-part-7/.

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Conclusion:

It is possible to bounce back from difficult times in life. It is also important to note that we are all different and what works for one person may not work for another. There is no easy way to bounce back from difficult times, but it is definitely possible. I know that I have come a long way from the days when I felt as though I was alone and could not get out of bed due to depression and loneliness. These feelings are something that many people experience; they are part of being human and having relationships with other people in this world.

Many of us will experience times in life where we feel emotionally overwhelmed by various situations in our lives.