Читать книгу 20 Something Manifesto - Christine Hassler - Страница 40

Like Lisa, we may find that our Expectation Hangover leads to real hangovers — and to overeating, laziness, overwork, and any number of emotional avoidance and self-medicating strategies. It’s very easy to beat ourselves up, belabor our mistakes, and throw a pity party when symptoms of a Hangover flare up, but that only perpetuates our symptoms. Practice healthy behavior instead. Eliminate or drastically reduce the amount you drink. Alcohol is a depressant that may temporarily make us feel better, but the next day we will feel even more down than before — and it takes a good three days for the toxins to leave our bodies. Some respond to emotional stress by taking recreational drugs, binge eating, going on shopping sprees, or slacking off at work, while others do the opposite: burying themselves in work, becoming hyper-productive. Yet all of these behaviors are merely temporary Band-Aids. As soon as we stop, our undesirable feelings return.

A better rehab program, as Lisa is discovering, is to commit to living a healthier lifestyle — physically, mentally, and fiscally. Exercise is a wonderful way to release endorphins (the “feel-good” hormone) and combat Hangover symptoms. Take care of your body by eating healthy, which provides a sense of empowerment over your own physical domain when everything else may seem out of control. Maintain a healthy work/life balance. When you are at work, be present. Don’t spend time IM’ing your friends about your Expectation Hangover. Focus on what you are paid to do, and at the end of the day, leave your work at work. Fill your personal life with nourishing social and creative activities. Keep your home neat and organized so that you have a sanctuary to return to. And finally, stick to a budget so that you are conscious about where you are spending your money. Debt is a common unpleasant side effect of many Expectation Hangovers.

“An Expectation Hangover about my job and relationships led to a short temper and some physical manifestations of my stress. Not wanting to be too angry at work or the people I love, I internalized the anger and it lead to insomnia, constant heartburn, and a depressed immune system that left me constantly sick. I spent a year worrying about why I wasn’t where I was ‘supposed’ to be and frantically trying to get there.”

Policy analyst, 26, dating, Washington, D.C.

When feelings are overwhelming and thoughts are unclear, journaling is an excellent remedy. Don’t leave your concerns and feelings bottled up inside. Talk to your friends, mentors, or a counselor about the stress and disappointment you are feeling. Holding unhappiness inside is like trying to submerge a beach ball underwater — eventually it will erupt, and the deeper it’s held, the bigger the splash. Decision making is stressful during an Expectation Hangover, so put off major decisions if you can, until you have strengthened your resolve and clarified your emotions by making healthier choices about your body, mind, and spirit.