There are a lot of things out there that can leave you feeling hopeless, powerless, and frustrated. Whether it’s the current political climate, the outbreak of the Coronavirus, or frustration at work, the result can be a real sense of despair. What can you do? How can you move forward?
At Two Rivers Counseling in Portland, we want you to know that there is hope. That’s why when you visit us, you can expect professional, personal, effective counseling. If you’re considering seeing a therapist because you’re feeling hopeless, we would absolutely love to see you! In the meantime, we have a few tips to help you in today’s post, so keep reading to learn more or contact us today to schedule an appointment.
What Gives You Hope?
As we mentioned above, there’s quite a bit going on in the world that can alarm us. One of the first things you should do is to take the time to think about which things in your life give you hope. It can be easy to go down the rabbit hole of things that are wrong, and then we end up getting caught in the weeds. Instead, change your focus.
Now, this can be easier said than done, of course, but once you start making a conscious effort to focus on the things that bring you happiness, hope, and joy, you’ll find that it helps to put things into perspective. For example, if your children are doing well in school, celebrate with them. If you enjoy the solitude of a hike, take the time to get outside. If there’s a hobby that you love spending time on, set aside an afternoon to focus solely on your hobby.
It’s Okay to Unplug
Whether it’s Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, or another form of social media, it can feel downright overwhelming to spend your free time reading about what others are saying. Before you know it, you’re spiraling into a pit of hopelessness.
In other words, your mental health suffers.
Do you need to uninstall those apps from your smartphone? Would you benefit from unfollowing certain people who fuel the fires of your frustration? Then go ahead and do those things! It’s okay to put your mental health first. Even if these people are friends, recognize that you don’t have to be connected to them on every social platform and that it’s okay to miss the things they’re saying — especially if those things leave you feeling hopeless and sad rather than built up and encouraged.
At the end of the day, anything that isn’t bringing you joy is something that’s okay to cut from your life right now. It doesn’t have to be forever, and it doesn’t have to be a big production. Instead, quietly unfollow any accounts that are frustrating you or feel free to take a break for a couple of weeks.
See a Portland Therapist Today
At Two Rivers Counseling, we would be honored to help you make it through the difficult times in your life. If you need someone to talk to, Dr. Post-Holmberg is here to help! By weaving threads of attachment theory, emotionally focused therapy, narrative therapy, and trauma reprocessing into his practice, Dr. Post-Holmberg helps to guide his patients through difficult experiences, traumatic events, and frustrating times. No matter what you’re dealing with, it’s important to remember that you don’t have to go through it alone.
It can be intimidating to seek counseling, but we want you to know that when you choose Two Rivers, you can expect a welcoming environment that is focused on being there for you. In our sessions, we can sit in the therapy room and drink a cup of tea together or we can take a walk. Ultimately, the goal is to help you in the way that works best for you, and that’s why every patient will receive a customized treatment that’s designed specifically to meet their needs.
If you know that you would benefit from seeing a therapist, Dr. Post-Holmberg would love to help you. Schedule an appointment today. Have questions you’d like to ask beforehand? That’s no problem! Feel free to contact our team any time and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. We look forward to seeing you soon.
