Get over it!

Suck it up! Snap out of it! Shake it off! Get over it! These are things that people say, or think about saying to a person who is dealing with feelings of anxiety or depression. Anyone who would think of saying these things clearly has never felt the overwhelming weight of these ominous emotions. When a person is experiencing anxiety or depression, often their mind gets stuck in negative places like a car tire stuck in the mud. It spins and spins while only sinking deeper, and then the fear kicks in with the thought of, “is this just how it’s going to be forever?” An effective strategy for people who are experiencing these emotions is to remember that experiences and emotions don’t last forever. In a similar way that night cycles into day, negative emotions usually run in cycles as well. Work to identify the areas of your life that need attention and set attainable goals to make changes where needed. Work to quiet the inner critic by focusing on the things for which you are grateful. And above all, treat yourself with kindness and compassion as you wait for the sun in your life to rise again.