By Writer Denise Turney

Unexpected events run the gamut. There’s the unexpected job promotion, welcomed new relationship, lottery winning, unparalleled artistic performance and sports victory. Let one of those experiences plop into your life, seemingly out of nowhere, and your mood might soar.

Life Throwing You Off Guard

Those are the “good” unexpected life events. Not to be outdone, “good events” also have an opposite in this world. Just as a start, there’s a job layoff, a loved one transitioning, a health challenge, an onstage performance snafu and an athletic strikeout.

Let one of these events pop-up, and you might feel unequipped to deal with the experience. On top of that, “normal” experiences could suddenly feel like too much for you to manage your way through. Receive an emergency telephone call from a first responder, telling you that a relative was in a life altering accident and you might feel as if you can’t catch your breath.

Even more, you might feel like you’re unable to go to work, finish school or manage even one other existing relationship. According to the Mayo Clinic, “You experience more stress than would normally be expected in response to a stressful or unexpected event, and the stress causes significant problems in your relationships, at work or at school.”

Signs You Might Be Stressed

Signs that you could be struggling to move forward post an unexpected life event vary. Generally, these signs include:

• Change in sleep patterns
• Inability to eat or eating and/or drinking excessively
• Unusual irritability
• Disturbing dreams that could be a sign that your subconscious is trying to clue you in to the fact that you’re stressed
• Trouble concentrating
• Memory issues or forgetting simple things like someone’s name, where you parked your car, etc.
• Worrying what feels like all the time

Preparing For Life’s Unexpected Events

Surprisingly, it could take just one unexpected life event to seemingly knock you off balance. Just one. Fortunately, and although you may not be able to prepare for every experience, there are actions that you could take to support yourself as you move through the unexpected. Among those events there’s:

• Cancel unnecessary expenses and build up your financial savings
• Join a good support group with members who have gone through one or more experiences similar to what you’re struggling to move through
• Explore treatment options if the unexpected life event involves a health challenge
• Use a fitness watch to monitor your deep sleep. Head to bed at the same time at night to encourage more deep sleep.
• Eat a healthy diet of natural foods and herbs, and drink lots of fresh water.
• Meditate
• Get outside and soak up natural sunlight in healthy ways (i.e. take a nature walk, go camping, hiking, bike riding, read a good book on the porch or front stoop).
• Talk to a friend who has proven that she/he can be trusted.
• Write in a journal. Express what you’re feeling and thinking.
• Seek professional support, as needed.

Friends Matter A Lot

Regardless of which actions you decide to take, it’s good to have a strong support system. Building this system could take time. Yet, it’s relatively easy. In fact, building a strong support system is an exercise in friendship building.

This means that you stay free of isolation. When friends invite you to a cruise, get together, movie or lunch, consider saying “yes” sometimes. Give yourself the chance to spend time with people who care about you. Feeling brave? Host an event of your own and invite friends and relatives to your place.

It might not seem like it now, but these relationships are where you could tap into the strength to keep moving forward after an unexpected event shows up. All said, the best time to start preparing for life’s unexpected events is now.

Being Present

Being present for others you know may seem like a small thing to do. However, in being there for others, you can learn how to sit still and be fully present while someone moves through challenge. Additionally, the people who you’re there for may be more open to supporting you when unexpected events take a shot at your internal balance.

Furthermore, being there for others is a great way to learn more about yourself. And, who knows? What you help someone else adjust to now could be what you’re faced with later. You might not see it now, yet that doesn’t mean that it won’t happen. After all, as much as you might try to peek into the future, on this side, it might very well be impossible to foresee all coming events.

So, make smart decisions. Take good actions now and also when you face the unexpected. Build and nurture strong support systems. Learn to sit still and make self-care a daily practice.

Resources:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/adjustment-disorders/symptoms-causes/syc-20355224#:~:text=You%20experience%20more%20stress%20than%20would%20normally%20be,any%20number%20of%20life%20changes%20can%20cause%20stress.