Life isn’t always a walk in the park. Sometimes, it’s downright difficult.
One of those times is when your health starts to fail. All your life, your body just worked and did what you wanted it to do. Now, though, it seems to have other ideas, and all your hopes and dreams are falling by the wayside.
The trick to dealing with all of this is to change your psychology. You might not be able to do anything about the illness, but you still have control over how you respond to it.
It’s like the famous saying: “in life, pain is inevitable, but suffering is a choice”.
But how do you take a different psychological perspective when things go wrong in your life? How do you thrive when failing health brings adversity? Here are some tips and strategies that may help you:
Accept What’s Happening
The first step in thriving in adversity is to accept what’s happening as reality. Acceptance does not mean giving up or resigning yourself to suffering. It just means acknowledging what is happening to you and how it affects you, without any judgment.
Accepting the way the world is is usually the only choice we have. While we can sometimes work to make the conditions of our lives better, that’s not always how it works out in practice.
Try being open and flexible to change and adaptation, instead of clinging to the past or the future. Even if you had big dreams that came crashing down, look for the silver lining in all of it. Being more accepting of the situation can reduce stress, anxiety, and frustration, and free up energy and resources for coping and healing.
Look For Support
The next step is to look for support. Don’t give in to the temptation to try to deal with all your problems yourself. You can seek support from family, friends, doctors, therapists, support groups, online communities, or spiritual leaders. These individuals can provide professional and emotional guidance during challenging times. They can also offer practical support to make your life easier and reduce feelings of loneliness and despair.
The type of support you receive will depend on the details of your condition. If your diagnosis is life-long, medical professionals can provide facilities to help you get around or manage your condition. They may even have psychological services you can use to improve how you spend your life daily.
Support comes in various forms depending on your mental health, too. Resources should pour in your direction when you describe how your condition is affecting you and what you need.
Take A Look At What You Can Control
When you encounter a health issue, it can feel like the majority of your life is out of your control. There are many aspects of your health problem that nobody can fix.
Even so, there are still many aspects that are within your control, such as your attitude, your actions, your habits, or your goals. Observing the control you have over your life can stop it from feeling like you’re on train tracks, heading to a dead end.
For instance, if you’re facing a terminal diagnosis, you might use will preparation services to get your affairs in order. This process can give you a sense of control and even help you look forward to the future where you will share your legacy with others.
Focusing on what you can control can also help you feel more empowered and proactive in managing your condition. Once you start assuming more power, it helps you avoid feelings of loneliness or helplessness in the face of adversity. You get a sense that you can respond to the challenge and deal with it, both mentally and physically.
Embody An Attitude Of Gratitude
Lastly, it’s a good idea to adopt a grateful attitude when health challenges strike. Gratitude is the practice of being thankful for what you have in your life, instead of focusing on what you lack or what you have lost. The practice can help you appreciate the positive aspects of your situation, such as the opportunities for growth, learning, or transformation that it offers. It makes it easier to get out of your head and refocus on your life and the opportunities it brings. It can also help you appreciate the kindness of others, such as their support and the love they show you directly.
Ultimately, gratitude changes your brain’s state. You move from a position of pain, grief, and loss, to one of positive thinking and hope.
Featured image: Photo by Yoann Boyer on Unsplash
Author: Mandy Kloppers
Mandy is a qualified therapist who treats depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, trauma, and many other types of mental health issues. She provides online therapy around the world for those needing support and also provides relationship counselling.
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