Stressed Out and Upset - Who Isn't?

Tonight my daughter woke up crying her eyes out.  She is still small, but has not done this in a very long time.  When asked why she was so upset her words were unintelligible.  We finally figured out the reason for her distress and that it was part of a dream.  It was heart wrenching to see her so upset over something that didn't really exist.

Then I thought about myself and realized we all do this.  We become very upset over things that are imagined or perceived, but not real.  We worry, we stress, we may even cry our eyes out.  In the end it will pass, but that doesn't make it any more fun.

Sometimes we borrow trouble.  We stress over events that aren't happening right now but "might" in the future.  I am seriously guilty of this specific transgression.  I'm sure my picture is in the dictionary next to the word stress.

At this time of year the stress level can be very high.  There are presents to buy (and pay for) and relatives to visit.  There are extra activities and parties along with the regular schedule of duties to perform.  We may find ourselves overwhelmed and stressed just thinking about it all.

So back to my daughter.  How do we comfort someone who is upset over something we don't think is real?  It is important to remember the fear is real to them and use compassion when consoling.  I don't think anyone wants to hear, "It's all in your head."  Remember to be kind while explaining how it isn't as bad a s it seems.

What do you do when you are the person upset?  I suggest taking deep breath and remembering your life is more than this one problem.  If you have friends to help, great.  It isn't fun to be upset over a real or imagined problem so calming down and getting a new perspective is important. 

I hope you don't find yourself in this situation very often, but if you do remember this: This too will come to pass, it may pass like a gall stone, but it will pass.