We all experience chaos in our lives, some of us more so than others. Examples include the car breaking down, refrigerator going on the fritz, accidently overdrawing your checking account, and receiving unexpected visitors. The list goes on.
However, for the past five weeks I have been experiencing an abnormal amount of disorder in my life. I sold my home six months ago and bought a new home a few months later. I moved in right when the holidays were starting (moving + holiday stress), and had just started getting situated when the extreme cold weather moved in. Just normal Ohio January weather, right?
Well, let’s just say that sometimes Mother Nature can be very vindictive. It started with a water pipe bursting above my ceiling. Water was running down the walls of my home onto my furniture, carpeting, and personal effects. Then problems with the furnace and refrigerator followed. Those issues led to almost daily phone calls and emails to resolve damage issues, and ultimately having to take lots of vacation time to get those problems resolved (or close to being resolved).
Situations that disrupt our lives – even positive occasions – can be stressful. The major constant distressing factors in our lives include:
- Death of a loved one
- Birth of a child
- New job and loss of a job
- Marriage and divorce
- Major illness and caring for a sick family member
- Moving
So how do we get through those times when it keeps raining, so to speak, and just won’t quit?
- Breathing and Mindfulness
- Meditation and Prayer
- Yoga
- Exercise
- Journal writing
- Pamper yourself
- Sharing the details of the situation(s) with family, friends, and colleagues.
During this chaotic time my back seized up on me (stress related) and I was told to “keep moving.” I also coped by getting a few back massages and did some “Yoga for Your Back.” Prayer, remembering to breath in and out, exercise, and talking with others helped.
But what is really helping me get through this more-than-usual chaotic time is living one moment at a time, one hour at a time, and one day at a time. You and I know that sometimes that is all we are able to do.
Written by: Candace J. Heer, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Morrow County
Reviewed by: Donna Green, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Erie County
Resources:
- https://www.webmd.com/balance/guide/causes-of-stress#1
- https://www.healthstatus.com/health_blog/depression-stress-anxiety/top-5-stressful-situations/
References:
- https://livesmartohio.osu.edu/mind-and-body/powers-barker-1osu-edu/mindfulness-practice-is-like-an-apple-orchard/
- https://livesmartohio.osu.edu/mind-and-body/brinkman-93osu-edu/mental-health-is-important/
- https://wexnermedical.osu.edu/integrative-complementary-medicine/yoga
- https://livesmartohio.osu.edu/mind-and-body/harmon-416osu-edu/no-time-for-exercise/
- https://livehealthyosu.com/2015/05/15/have-you-tried-journaling-your-stressors/
- https://www.massagemag.com/spa-science-treatments-85746/
- https://livehealthyosu.com/2016/04/11/taming-stress-using-stress-busters/
Live Healthy Live Well 
Leave a Reply