Here's What to Do When People Insult Stressed-out You

B'SD

9 Adar, 5773

One of the complications about having a medical, disability or mental health problem is that people tend to run out of sympathy for the sufferers over the long term.

It is the sufferers responsibility, and opportunity, to improve their response(s) to their dilemmas and lingering issues. That's what maturity is all about. Mature people make cultured, reasonable responses to their overall situations and to the specifics of their problems. 

Whining is not an adult response to stress. Pity parties will happen from time to time, though. That's life, and a signal to strengthen your sense of self and inner strength.

But what can you do when criticism is aimed at struggling you as you work on mastering that cultured, mature response to whatever's ailing you? 

Share this story with the critic.

A young lady confidently walked 
around the room 
while leading and explaining 
 stress management 
to an audience 
while holding a raised glass of water. 

Everyone knew she was going to ask 
the ultimate question, 
"Half empty or half full?"

She fooled them all. 

"How heavy is this glass of water?" 
she asked with a smile. 

Audience members called out answers ranging from 8 ounces to 20 ounces.

She replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long I hold it.  If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm.

"If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance. In each case it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes. And that's the way it is with stress. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on.

"As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden - holding stress longer and better after each time we practiced our coping strategies."

[Back to me, Yocheved, now] Now you can look your critic(s) in the eye and say "I'm doing the best I can given the situation. I'm making efforts to deal with stress better over time. I'd appreciate your patience and compassion the whole time.

Fulfill your intention to face stress with increased calm just as the sign-off message to this blog indicates: Face Your Medical Problems with Dignity. Face Your Future with Optimism.

Buy the E-book or print edition that can help you to do so TODAY! Click on the words EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a MedicalChallenge. 

                         

Face Your Medical Problems with Dignity.

Face Your Future with Optimism.

Develop that mature, cultured response with suggestions in the book.

Need one more resource to boost your mood? Listen to http://www.newsforthesoul.com/ EFT tapping can be quite helpful.

Going for counseling to deal with your stress? Do what the EMPOWER Yourself book suggests: Rely only on clergy and therapists who display complete respect for your well-being. Avoid abusers.

Less stress and keep your cash, that’s the theme of EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge. It teaches you how to organize your medical and/or disability life, how to save money on medical costs and how to get your grin back in one reading. Buy it from Booklocker here.