A Psychologist Gave Us 15 Tips On How To Navigate The Chaos

As Lebanon goes through unprecedented social and economic problems, many of us have felt the toll on our mental health. We asked licensed clinical psychologist Kohar Balekdjian to guide us through these unstable times. Here are 15 helpful tips to ground yourself during times of uncertainty.

1. Feel and name your feelings: Acknowledge that times are rough right now and take time to simply sit with whatever you’re feeling. Name your feelings, whether they are fear, worry or anxiety.

2. Practice mindfulness: Every time your mind wanders to the uncertain future, return back to the present moment. And as long as there is no real danger in the present moment, try to live it to the full by making the best out of the situation.

3. Understand things you can control versus things you can’t control: By focusing on the things you can control, you fully accept that which you cannot change and work accordingly on the things you can.

4. Choose one simple activity you enjoy: Whatever it is that you love to do, whether it is listening to music or walking your dog or watching a movie on Netflix, choose it and do it consistently every day.

5. Limit exposure to social media: Avoid being constantly and repeatedly bombarded with the news on WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram and every social media platform. They might be fake and can ruin your mood and even your whole day!

6. Remember, how you respond to situations is a choice: You don’t have to necessarily cope with negativity to each and every situation. You may feel worried, afraid or anxious, but you can choose to let it stop there.

7. Practice self-care: Take care of yourself by working out, eating regular healthy meals, having a good sleep and staying in touch with close friends. Doing this will create a small, stable routine in your day which can give you a sense of control. You can also spend time in nature and plan weekend getaways, this way you will have something to look forward to all week..

8. Practice gratitude: Write one thing each day that you are grateful for: This will help you see all the blessings you are surrounded with every day.

9. Know you are not alone: Remember you are not the only one living in these uncertain moments. Knowing that we are all in this together and no one is immune to this unstable situation can make a huge difference.

10. The past can guide you: Remember how you coped with difficulties in the past and how you conquered them? Examining your past successes can help you see past the current crisis and derive some confidence that you will be able to pull through again.

11. Remember, everything in life is temporary: No matter how hard the situation, everything has an end and nothing lasts forever. Hang on until you move to the next phase of your life.

12. No matter what, don’t lose hope: Once you lose hope, you are dead. Hope for better days will keep you sane and make you always look forward to the coming days, no matter how dark they seem at the moment.

13. Visualize the best future: It is easy to be consumed by what’s going wrong around you. Instead, use the power of visualization to form a mental picture of your ideal future. This will help you see more opportunities and possibilities that are yet to come.

14. Accept the current situation: Whatever the present moment brings, accept it and don’t fight against it. Even if it seems scary right now, everything will be ok. You are going to figure it out, and you don’t have to do it right at this second. Acknowledge that you are alive and believe that you have all the potential in the world to thrive in the new situations that are waiting for you.

15. If all else fails, seek professional help: Consider getting professional help if you still feel that things are out of your control. Remember it is your right to be mentally healthy, stable and strong.

A small note from psychologist Kohar to you – “I wish you well on your journey and that in the midst of difficulties, you can find some comfort and joy in your small moments and still filled with hope for your big dreams to come.”

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