When we are in the midst of strong emotions and feelings, it can seem as though things will never change. Overwhelming feelings like depression, frustration, regret and others can really take hold of us. It is important, therefore, to remind ourselves that everything changes—all feelings do pass and even if it feels completely overwhelming today, it will likely change tomorrow or the next day…
Single parents do not have the market cornered on strong, overwhelming feelings but I have yet to meet a single parent who does not wrestle with occasional bouts of pretty heavy emotions. For some odd reason, they seem to come upon us not when we are relaxed and with plenty of time to devote to our mental and emotional health—but at times when we are already maxed, stressed, and on the verge of losing it in more ways than one. THAT is when we get the feelings that threaten to settle in and take up permanent residence.
They won’t. The great thing about inevitable change in life is that NOTHING lasts forever—not even the bad stuff. Those emotions and feelings that can feel absolutely overwhelming and impossible when you are soaked in them do eventually pass. Sometimes it is just a matter of minutes or hours, or a day. Other times, they may stick around for a week or even longer. I cannot count the times I have made myself settle down and go to sleep, telling myself that even if it didn’t feel like it at that very moment, I would feel differently in the morning. My emotions would shift and I would be in a different place. This is not to say that we do not get re-visits of those heavy emotions, but we do get a break, and feelings do pass…eventually.
See Also: Strong Parent Emotions can be Scary
Dealing with Children’s Emotions