How To Heal During Difficult Times | 14 Ways To Get Through 

TLDR: Going through something tough? I’ve been there. So have many of my friends. This is how to heal during difficult times, based on years of experience.

How To Heal During Difficult Times Summary

• Podcasts
• Talk to friends and family 
• Journal 
• Meditate
• Allow yourself time to cry
• Be still 
• Read books
• Practise gratitude 
• Take your supplements 
• Schedule fun 
• Exercise 
• Try therapy 
• Eat healthy
• Be outside

I have definitely had my fair share of sad, and I have watched friends go through sad times too. 

Whether it’s a break up or an illness, here is how to heal during difficult times all based on my experience. 

Podcasts

I can’t begin to explain how much podcasts have helped me to heal during difficult times. 

My top tip is to find the subject you’re looking for help with and search it in the podcasts search bar. It will bring up episodes related to that issue and you can pick what ones you want to listen to. 

My top podcasts which have helped me to heal during difficult times are: 

• The psychology of your 20s
• The Sinaed Says Podcast
• How To Fail by Elizabaeth Day
• Bianna Wiest – Try this episode (it gives me goosebumps!) 
• Open House – your weekly free therapy

Talk to friends and family 

Try to choose one person whose advice you trust and be honest and open with them. If they are a really good friend or family member the chances are they will want to help you to heal during difficult times. 

Journal 

There are so many benefits to journaling, just grab a pen and paper and write down your thoughts. You don’t need to keep it, you don’t need to worry about spelling and grammar… just get it out of your head. 

Meditate

Meditation can be difficult at first, preserve. It’s important to sit and just be, it allows your subconscious mind to work through things which might help you to heal during difficult times. 

The Sinaed says podcast that I mentioned earlier has a few meditations for free, and she also has a meditation hub which is really good.  

Allow yourself time to cry

Let it out! If you want to heal during a difficult time sometimes you just have to be sad. Cry if you need to cry, scream into a pillow if you need to scream. It won’t last forever (I promise) and it will be a very important part of your healing journey. 

I have lost count of how many times I have sat on the kitchen floor and cried. I don’t know why the kitchen floor… it’s just my spot! My crying can last anywhere between 10-15 minutes, and I usually feel better (albeit slightly puffy eyed)

Be still 

Stop distracting yourself. You’re sad! Let yourself feel that way, do the above. Sit and stare at a wall. It’s okay to be unproductive for a little while. 

Read books

There are so many books out there that can help you heal during difficult times. My all time favourite is a book by Brianna Weist called ‘100 essays that will change the way you think’ I can not recommend it enough. 

I have a pen out and underline anything that feels important, then I flick back through and remind myself of these things. 

I would suggest you go to the library or your local book store (a lovely place to be when you’re healing) and see what stands out to you. 

Then take your time reading that book, enjoy it on your lunch break or before bed as a little bit of self care. 

Practise gratitude 

I assure you that not everything can be bad. I know it feels that way but you’re reading this on a computer, right? Or your phone? So there we go, that’s one thing to be grateful for : )

You can afford a computer or phone. Oh and you’re alive. 

Just try and write down 3 things a day that you’re grateful for, even if they are really small. It can help rewire your brain to focus on the good. 

I can assure you that gratitude is life-changing. 

Take your supplements 

There is no magic pill to help you to heal during difficult times but you can support your health with supplements. 

I would suggest taking magnesium to help with your sleep and ashwaganda or CBD to help with anxiety. 

Schedule fun 

You probably don’t feel like having fun right now, and like you’ll never smile again. 

But it is a good idea to try and live your life as best you can so scheduling fun is a good idea. 

By this I mean put something in your diary for the weekend with friends or family and make yourself go to it. It might feel a little forced but the chances are it will be fun and may even put a little smile on your face. 

Exercise 

This will release your happy hormones, even if you just take a nice long walk. It’s always a good idea to incorporate exercise into your life if you are looking to heal. 

Try therapy 

Therapy is not cheap but depending on your situation it could be free. When I had my hysterectomy I was offered it on the NHS. Chat to your doctor and see what options are available to you. 

If you can afford it, I would really recommend finding yourself a good therapist. I found one and she really helped me have lots of little revaluations which have definitely helped me grow and heal. 

Eat healthy 

Finally, eat well. It is not going to do you any good to eat junk food right now. Cooking a meal with lots of fresh fruit and veg can be quite mindful too. Maybe pick up a cook book when you head to the library to look for healing books.

Just put down the junk food, it’s not going to help you to heal during a difficult time. 

Be outside

Being around nature can really lift your spirits. Water can help ease anxiety and trees are thought to absorb negative energy (I’ve been known to hug a few and I can confirm I do feel better!)

I hope this has helped you! I have written this based on my personal experience of having a hysterectomy (amongst other sad things, like not being able to have more kids) 

If you want to chat you are welcome to email me [email protected]

xxx