Distraction
is a particularly useful skill during times of crisis. So why might distraction be helpful for you right now?
Times of crisis come when we are faced with difficulties and problems of high importance to us. For example, the loss of an important relationship, the loss of a job, increased financial stressors and strain, threats to our accommodation or a combination of difficulties at the same time.
These difficulties will have an effect on us emotionally and activate us into thinking about the problems to find a resolution. The bigger the problem the more time we give to it and the more we will feel it.
When we notice these problems emerging, it’s a good indicator that we need to take time away from thinking about our problems. This is not to say that we give up, forget about things or stop trying to find resolutions. Instead we are looking to protect ourselves from exhaustion and overwhelming emotional distress and pain.
Because we are primed instinctually to focus our attention and thinking on problems, not thinking about them is challenging. It can feel counter-intuitive and requires conscious effort to move our attention onto other things. Distraction is a good skill that can help us to achieve this. We’ve included some ideas for how to distract yourself below.
Ideas for how to distract
Below are some ideas for how to distract yourself
What can I do to help myself with anger and aggression?
Spend between 5-15 minutes doing one of the activities below. The outcome of each task is not important here. What is important is that we are using these tasks to focus our attention of something else other than our problems. By doing so we help the mind to detach from the difficulties we are faced with, reduce problems focus over-thinking and create moments away from the uncomfortable emotions we are carrying.