1 Simple Way to Feel Better Today

By Michele Rosenthal

One New Year's Eve many years ago I had my final total meltdown. I sobbed for
the fact that another year had been lost to PTSD, and sobbed harder for the idea
that another year to come would sag beneath the weight of symptoms. I didn't
know what to do to bring about any change in my life.

If you've ever faced the future and thought, "What the heck do I do now??" then
you know how it feels to be completely lost. Figuring out how to go forward when
you don't know which way to go can make the future seem even more uncertain,
fragile, fraught with peril and bleak.

As you face the year ahead remember that it's okay not to know what you're
doing. In fact, that's a natural part of the post-trauma world. Learning how to
manage that space and grow in and from it is a major part of healing.

The next time you find yourself unclear about what to do next in your recovery or
your life try any one (or all) of these options:

1. Be still -- You can only make good decisions when you're able to assess the
options, prioritize desires and create intentions for the outcome. These are
sedentary processes. You can't do any of them if you keep running. Hard as it may
be at first, develop a practice of being still (even if only for 30 seconds) so that
your mind and body can work toward a sense of clarity.

2. Research -- You're not supposed to have all the answers, you're only supposed
to relentlessly look for them. It's okay not to know, not to be certain, not to have
an idea. Part of the recovery process is learning. Education is key and remains one
place in which you are immediately in control. Identify what you don't know and
want answers to. Then, set yourself on a path of researching to find the
information that will lead to your next step.

3. Ask -- Trauma and PTSD symptoms can make you feel like a freak and so
disconnected from the "regular" world that you feel constantly alone. The truth is,
you are never as alone as you imagine. There are people to whom you can turn,
whether they are peers, family, friends, colleagues or professionals there are
people you can ask for help. Identify who you feel safe enough to approach and
ask for assistance. Even if you don't know what you specifically need/want asking
puts the ball in motion.

4. Look/Listen/Feel -- Your own mind and body constantly offer you clues for
what would be useful, helpful and healing. Tune into what you notice. Note what
you see that resonates with you. Identify what you hear (often inside your head)
that offers an idea. Recognize what makes you feel good vs. bad and move
toward the things that make you feel even just the slightest bit better.

5. Wait -- As frustrating as it can be sometimes the best thing to do is nothing....

for a little while. When things seem chaotic or you feel lost or there are too many
options and you're not sure which to choose... wait. Let your mind sift through
the information, organize and integrate it so that an opinion can be formed and a
decision made. Your subconscious mind is always working on things. Give your
conscious mind a distraction and let your subconscious have time to process.
Wait. Then notice the message your mind sends or return to the issue with a fresh
perspective.

That New Year's Eve so long ago was my last meltdown because I chose option #3:
When I looked, listened and felt I noticed that there was one thing that made me
feel better, so I decided to do that one thing every day, literally. The full story of
what happened when I did this (and how it naturally led me forward) is outlined
in my book, Before the World Intruded: Conquering the Past and Creating that
Future.

Suffice it to say that tuning into myself through option #3 led me down a path
that culminated in my full recovery. Whichever option you choose, in 2015 I hope
you have a similar breakthrough on your quest for freedom.