An event that happened in the past doesn’t have to be huge and dramatic to still affect you. Friends and family may be surprised to find that you are still even thinking about something that happened years ago – but that doesn’t mean you should just discount your feelings. Finding a way to deal with events of the past is important for your happiness, and it can also help you learn to cope with other challenges in your life.
Why is my past still affecting me?
You may think that whatever happened to you in the past may not live up to the trauma that a combat soldier or a crime victim has gone through – but what matters is that it was traumatic to you. There may be many reasons why you are having problems letting go of something that happened in the past. Figuring out why you keep thinking about the past can, in itself, go a long way toward figuring out better ways you can deal with problems you are having now or will have in the future.
There are some things you can do to try to deal with the past and move on:
1. Find someone you can talk to. If you can’t find a friend or a family member who can support you (because they are wondering why you are still upset about something that happened in the past), try a therapist.
2. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Just recognizing that you keep thinking about the past and realizing you need to deal with it is a great first step.
3. Practice mindfulness. Being in the present moment (mindfulness) isn’t as easy as it sounds, and learning how to be mindful can take some time and effort, but it can also help to get your mind out of the past and into the present.
Getting over the past isn’t always easy – even if friends and family think you should be able to “get over it.” The staff at Wasatch Crest Treatment in Heber, Utah, can help you to deal with your past so that you can have a fabulous future. Call (800) 385-3507.
