Disappointments can cause unwanted effects in certain aspects of life, such as, for example, a separation from a partner, the loss of a loved one or a dismissal, among others. The truth is that each person experiences situations in very different ways. One of the variables that we must be very alert about in these cases is that sadness invades us permanently. This fact can generate unfavorable consequences for the development of our daily activities.
In this Psychology-Online article we will explain what to do when you hit rock bottom emotionally and how to recover.
What does it mean to hit rock bottom?
First of all, we must start from the fact that the phrase “hit rock bottom” is a popular expression used by people in informal settings. In other words, it does not correspond to an academic definition of any particular topic.
That said, the meaning of hitting rock bottom lies in reaching a moment of personal questioning and life circumstances after having gone through a period of fear, anger, uncertainty or helplessness.
How to know if you have hit rock bottom
How do you feel when you hit rock bottom? To know if you have hit rock bottom it is important pay attention to the signs related to this period that may appear. Detecting these signs will allow strategies to be adopted to treat this problem in the best way.
Here are some ways to find out if you’ve hit rock bottom:
- The everyday becomes unimportant: a lack of interest in external stimuli appears. At the same time, the sensations that various situations and activities produced in us begin to seem indifferent to us.
- Fear of novelty: This is usually common, however, hitting rock bottom will produce a feeling of excessive fear to face this type of situation in daily life.
- Lack of imagination: In specific cases, the current situation generates feelings of helplessness and unease so great that they prevent planning long-term projects and objectives.
How to recover when you’ve hit rock bottom
Fortunately, this process is usually temporary in most people. For this reason, it is essential to understand the origin of the problem to take actions that allow improvements in the person. However, if this state lasts for a considerable time and interferes with normal performance, it is advisable to go to a health professional to treat the problem.
Here are some tips that can help you recover when you’ve hit rock bottom:
Talk about how you feel with people close to you
First of all, it is essential that your close environment is trustworthy to talk about emotional situations that require a certain amount of privacy. Talk about your deepest feelings and thoughts It will facilitate recovery and allow you to begin to see situations from another perspective.
Change the vision of the facts
Although it is true that this aspect can be difficult, we must keep in mind that hitting rock bottom implies a negative view of reality that affects the way we perceive facts. However, if a new approach to life We can get out of this state.
Create moments of personal leisure
When someone has hit rock bottom, they will feel that external obligations and planning are overwhelming, which will generate a lack of recreational activities. For this reason, make time for leisure and fun moments It will make you feel vital impulses again.
Reorganize the routine
In moments of hopelessness, everyday life begins to become boring. When this happens, the moments are worthless and the person feels that there is no possible way out. In this sense, a reorganization of the routine It will be able to help in recovery after having hit rock bottom.
Lessons learned when hitting rock bottom
In addition to the adversities that are experienced when hitting rock bottom, there can also be lessons that last over time. Below are some lessons learned from hitting rock bottom:
1. Assessment of the decisions made
When a person hits rock bottom and manages to recover, they will begin to adopt a different posture towards the events that come their way. For this reason, You will begin to give greater value to life decisions that will be taken in the future.
If you want to know more about this topic, you will find in the following article.
2. Prevention of unpleasant situations
In general terms, people who have hit rock bottom carry out an analysis of the situations that caused the problems that led to that deep state of sadness. Thus, taking into account the events of the past decisions that may impact our well-being can be avoided.
3. Strengthening social ties
The links between people constitute one of the main ways of interaction of human beings. For this reason, people who have experienced difficult and unpleasant situations in life will begin to better select the people who are part of your life and produce well-being in the present to avoid past mistakes.
4. More realistic view of life
People who have hit rock bottom They usually have a different perspective on life in relation to moments in the past. This occurs as a result of having acquired important learnings related to not believing themselves omnipotent in any area.
5. Greater self-knowledge
After having gone through a dark period of life, there is a high probability that the person will have Learn more about how you think, act and feel in the situations that arise. That is, the person will have learned to know himself better.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
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Bibliography
- Henao Escobar, J., Segura Restrepo, J. (2013). The experience of “hitting rock bottom” in recovered alcoholics: A phenomenological approach. Magazine Diversitas: Perspectives in Psychology, 9 (2), 319-333.