Long Distance Love: How to deal with a crisis
Sometimes, unfortunately,
being in a long distance relationship
doesn't always mean simply
figuring out how to get through
the everyday stuff; sometimes it
means figuring out how to handle
a serious problem on your own.
Whether it's a health crisis, a death, a financial crisis or any number of other major obstacles in your life, it can be a real challenge to try to cope with a crisis when you don't have that one person you always lean on. Though it will never be the same as having your partner around to help you deal, here are my tips for how to handle a crisis as smoothly as possible without your better half:
- Have a support system. During times of great stress, it's more important than ever to have a strong support system. Even if your crisis is something as relatively minor as coming down with a nasty flu bug, make sure you have people around you like, friends, family or neighbours who can check up on you, bring you soup or magazines or (when you're no longer contagious) spend time keeping you company at home. It never helps to try to take on the entire burden of a crisis alone; make sure you have people to help you and actually let them help.
- Keep communications strong between you and your significant other. Even though your partner may not be physically close to help support you through tough times, you can still look to them for certain things. If you need to vent about whatever is going on, call and let them know you just need to talk to them. If you're having a particular problem that you can't figure out a solution to, ask them for their opinion. It can be just as hard on your significant other to watch you go through something without being able to be there in person for you, so keep that in mind and let them help in whatever way they can.
- Find a healthy coping mechanism. Eating an entire bag of chips every day or refusing to get out of bed for two straight weeks are probably not your healthiest options in terms of coping. Sure, everyone needs to wallow once in a while and take some time to just process your emotions, but in terms of a long-term coping mechanism, try something a little better for your general wellbeing. Take long walks to clear your head, take up yoga or meditation, keep a journal or anything that will help you get through a crisis in your life but won't be detrimental to your long-term health.
I hope these tips will be helpful if you're ever faced with a crisis in your life, but hopefully you'll never be in that position alone.
Whether it's a health crisis, a death, a financial crisis or any number of other major obstacles in your life, it can be a real challenge to try to cope with a crisis when you don't have that one person you always lean on. Though it will never be the same as having your partner around to help you deal, here are my tips for how to handle a crisis as smoothly as possible without your better half:
- Have a support system. During times of great stress, it's more important than ever to have a strong support system. Even if your crisis is something as relatively minor as coming down with a nasty flu bug, make sure you have people around you like, friends, family or neighbours who can check up on you, bring you soup or magazines or (when you're no longer contagious) spend time keeping you company at home. It never helps to try to take on the entire burden of a crisis alone; make sure you have people to help you and actually let them help.
- Keep communications strong between you and your significant other. Even though your partner may not be physically close to help support you through tough times, you can still look to them for certain things. If you need to vent about whatever is going on, call and let them know you just need to talk to them. If you're having a particular problem that you can't figure out a solution to, ask them for their opinion. It can be just as hard on your significant other to watch you go through something without being able to be there in person for you, so keep that in mind and let them help in whatever way they can.
- Find a healthy coping mechanism. Eating an entire bag of chips every day or refusing to get out of bed for two straight weeks are probably not your healthiest options in terms of coping. Sure, everyone needs to wallow once in a while and take some time to just process your emotions, but in terms of a long-term coping mechanism, try something a little better for your general wellbeing. Take long walks to clear your head, take up yoga or meditation, keep a journal or anything that will help you get through a crisis in your life but won't be detrimental to your long-term health.
I hope these tips will be helpful if you're ever faced with a crisis in your life, but hopefully you'll never be in that position alone.
