New Fears That Personal Growth Hadn’t Taken

The tremor laced each word in a client’s request for an appointment as soon as possible .  When she walked into the office, tears welled slightly as she fought to regain control.  It had been several months since her last check in to reinforce the significant gains she had made in her emotional and personal growth the last few years.  She had made a remarkable comeback, finally, after years of fighting hard for her sanity with therapy and medication.  Changes in her thinking and behavior had served her well.

Now, the culprit of feeling unstable again materialized in her life, as it has in thousands who have met the valleys of this economic turn down.  Her job threatens her survival as the company squeezes profits.  Even a seasoned employee like her, who actually likes her job and has found good success is personally challenged by the company’s problems.  Her task of helping angry customers who feel raped by big business is monumental.  Her loss in bonus checks has been enough to uproot her progress.

This client epitomized the success that graces one’s work in a general practice of psychology.  She had learned her coping skills, processed her losses, and built inner strengths after a family death and estrangement from other family members thereafter.  She has bathed in her new found confidence, and finally has reached a point where the trauma reactions do not plague her each day.  She speaks of the past as outside her current realm, and embraces her positive thoughts and strengths.  True progress.  But, she is now fragile in her recovery.

As a grown woman in her thirties, losses were to be expected, but what wasn’t expected were events that followed.  The family had been exceptionally close; it was unthinkable to lose family contacts.  She couldn’t accept the situation.  Her difficulties aren’t unique; however, previous traumas, perhaps poor choices, have unsettled her to the point of being unable to function.

Time To Regroup

Now, she is frightened, fearful that she is back to square one.  She needs the safety of sharing her fears, rebuilding confidence, and reassurance that she has not lost her gains.

It is important to reinforce her strengths again, be a solid port in the storm, and otherwise guide her to call upon her inner resources.  All the while, she must take realistic steps to weather the crises.  Just like we have seen with some businesses who report a comeback from financial devastation, as individuals we must take steps to cut back, “make lemonade with the lemons,” and otherwise go into survival mode.

You can adapt to these difficulties by keeping a clear head, believing in your inner resources, getting help when you are in doubt, and letting your thoughts and feelings be brought into the light by discussions with others.  There are ways out of the most twisted maze of events.  Know that being alone and not sharing with friends and family are the paths to more trouble.  Help can be only a phone call away.  Take that step, if you need it, or give encouragement to someone who does.