A reflection on a time when I was going through a harrowing period brings back the memory of a time of great uncertainty and transition. This period truly challenged my resilience. That period was surely one of the hardest times of my life, as I faced unprecedented challenges in my personal and professional lives. To get through it eventually, I had to use both personal coping skills and some help from the support group. This situation was the one that felt the worst for me because it was about the termination of work and the separation in my husband’s life at the same time. It was not a plain sailing journey for me, as I was puzzled and wondered how to combat the tough situation I did not know well about before (Lundorff et al., 2019). The initial symptoms affected me, wavering between a mixture of anger toward the person responsible, despair related to the loss of health, and the self-thought that I might not be strong enough to overcome the disease.
I turned to my more time-tested methods of coping, which served me in the previous crises. Allowing myself to acknowledge and deal with my feelings rather than considering them a burden was one of my best options. The journal made me feel safe and judgment-free, and it was also the medium that expressed my thoughts and feelings, giving me peace of mind. Similarly, exercise also aided in eradicating my stress and getting rid of the confusion of the mind, which enabled me to overcome the problem with better strength and energy (Hatunoglu, 2020). It was also a major element on which I could rely during my hardships. My family was my constant friend, whereas friends exchanged consoling ears, strong words, and useful help, which was my pool of comfort and strength. Their consistent support enabled me to feel like I was part of a community when I was most vulnerable. Furthermore, I no longer wished to face my problem alone; I figured it was them alongside me.
As we process the information covered through the course, adaptive coping methods are very up-to-date in this case. I found myself, however, adopting mutable coping strategies for my stressful life situations. Reflecting on those days now, I understand that adopting a mindful and purposeful practice would have greatly aided me in managing stress. Considering this, I might have opted for various ways of dealing with stress besides my usual tactics, like exercise and journaling. This could be finding an experienced mentor through therapy or counseling to acquire new techniques and outlooks for managing well (Currie et al., 2019). Being adaptable helped me try different ways of coping and tweak my inner approaches to fit our situation. This information could have also enlightened me on how cognitive appraisal is involved in today’s emotions and stress management. If I had only focused on the growth of myself and discovered myself as a person, I would have handled the confrontation much better instead of perceiving it as a setback.
In conclusion, referring to the above experience, strength, and adaptive coping methods can potentially overcome life’s struggles. I dealt with those conditions by using social support and personal coping strategies. However, I could have dealt with the stress and the issues better if cognitive approaches and adjustment techniques had included some ideas. With this experience added to my capabilities, I will move forward and apply these lessons further to develop resilience and well-being skills during periods of stress.
References
Currie, E. R., Christian, B. J., Hinds, P. S., Perna, S. J., Robinson, C., Day, S., … & Meneses, K. (2019). Life after loss: Parent bereavement and coping experiences after infant death in the neonatal intensive care unit. Death Studies, 43(5), 333–342.
Hatunoglu, B. Y. (2020). Stress coping strategies of university students. Kıbrıslı Eğitim Bilimleri Dergisi, 15(5), 1320-1336.
Lundorff, M., Thomsen, D. K., Damkier, A., & O’Connor, M. (2019). How do loss- and restoration-oriented coping change over time? A prospective study on adjustment following spousal bereavement. Anxiety, Stress, & Coping, 32(3), 270-285.
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