Have you ever had a day where you’re just off-kilter or in a funk? You aren’t quite sure why, but you’re just not yourself? And, if you’re like me, you probably don’t feel like forcing yourself to be yourself? The big problem is that off-kilter doesn’t usually happen when we have time to stop and take care of ourselves. Nope, that would be too easy! Usually we still have things we need to get done or people we need to interact with. We have to figure out how to put on a good face, be productive, or at least get by until we can feel like ourselves again, and we have to do it precisely when we’d rather curl up in a corner and be left alone – not easy!

If only I had a reset button for my feelings…

I had an off-kilter morning this week, a morning where I wished for a brain reset button. (Wouldn’t that be nice?!) And while I stopped and tried to figure out how to hit my reset button so I could keep getting things done like I needed to, it occurred to me that other people experience this too, and that it was worth sharing with you, both to remind you that you are not alone and to talk about what to do to help ourselves.

So, what can we do when we’re just not ourselves? Step one is to remember that you have tools and you know how to use them. You might have to convince yourself of this, after all, you are not currently in your happiest or most optimistic state of mind! So stop and think: what has worked for you in the past when you’ve felt like this? Can you try that again now? If you can’t think of anything, maybe you can use one of these ideas that have worked for me in the past (and hey, send me your ideas on Facebook or our website too, please! – having a bunch of tools is great because not every tool is perfect for every situation – you can pick what’s right for you!):

• Send a little love to someone else. (Focusing on others by sending a loving text or email gets you out of your own head and can be a reminder of the troubles of others, plus you feel useful, so it is easier to feel good!)
• Reach out for help. (Send that text or email to someone who might be able to make you smile, remind you that you are cared about, or give you other helpful feedback.)
• Focus on gratitude. (Make a list of things for which you are thankful or reach out and specifically thank someone.)
• Give yourself a short break. (Walk outside for a few minutes, read something that might cheer you up or get you out of your head, scream into a pillow, or whatever else you feel you need.)
• Give yourself permission to feel whatever you need to feel. (You know what? It’s okay. You probably have your reasons, and feeling those feelings that are coming up helps process them. Maybe you need a longer break or to schedule some time to focus on you. That’s okay.)

Once you’ve helped yourself get through that short-term funk, you can find a better time to really deal with it. What does that mean?  Figure out where the feelings are coming from, and then address the root cause. That funk came from somewhere, and if you figure out what’s going on you can work on fixing it – then you won’t have to have those feelings anymore! How can you figure out where the feelings are coming from? This might include making a list of all the things on your mind, observing what happened right before the funk started, paying attention to specific emotions or thoughts that were a part of the funk, or noting if there were other factors affecting you, like lots of noise, being hungry, or not sleeping well. You can also get someone to help you think through it. This could be a friend, family member, or a professional. The Orlando mental health counselors at Life Skills Resource Group are definitely here to help you work out feelings in Orlando counseling.

So, remember what I said about wishing that I had a brain reset button? Well, I do (and you do too)! When I’m just not myself, this is how I get through. This process is my reset button! And while it isn’t quite as easy as just pushing a button, it can help you keep going when you’re experiencing a funk and help figure out how to avoid the funk in the future! If you need a partner in figuring out your funk, give us a call at Life Skills Resource Group Orlando at 407-355-7378. Our Orlando couples counselors, Orlando adult counselors, Orlando teen counselors, and Orlando child counselors look forward to working with you.

Now for a magic food button… ~Krista Bringley