Stage 1: Feeling Stuck
Following a crisis there is usually a period of 'standstill' in which feelings of bewilderment, fear, anger, loss and hopelessness may dominate.
"You go through many emotions in that first year, you can't see anything, you can't think straight, you feel very angry".
You may feel stuck when:
- There seems to be no hope for the person's recovery, their future seems hopeless.
- You've lost meaning and purpose in your own life.
- You've lost a sense of who you are.
- You can't face talking to friends or family.
Here are the questions we mentioned earlier, try to write down the things that are meaningful to you.
- How is what is happening now connected to what happened in the past? Does it help to understand what's happening now by looking back at the past? Can I accept that the past is the past?
- What have I learned from this experience? How has it changed me for the better? What can I take from this experience that will help me in the future?
- What were the most difficult parts of this experience for me? What can I learn from them that will help me feel stronger and more hopeful for the future?
- In what ways can I make sense of what my relative has been through, and the way I have responded to him / her during this time?