“We’ve all been in those situations where we have a run of seemingly bad luck,” Lynn How, the author of “Positive Young Minds” who specializes in supporting parents, teachers, and children navigating through mental health issues, told Bored Panda. “We question what on earth we have done to deserve this?”
Lynn said that when you are in the middle of this misery, it is a challenge to see your way out. “With situations like these, the phrase, ‘what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger’, does hold some weight, there are lessons to be learnt about yourself from a bad situation and you need the shadow to appreciate the light.”
Moreover, “often you don’t appreciate these lessons when you are in the thick of it and it is only in hindsight that you can spot them. You may notice yourself emerge as a stronger person. It is useful to remember this to help get you through and also that any situation is temporary.”
However, Lynn reminds that if your situation is particularly difficult, reaching out for support will help you through. “Don’t suffer on your own,” she said.
When asked whether things we see and read online can have a negative effect on our mental wellbeing, Lynn confirmed that “the media is designed to be full of negativity and scaremongering as this is what people are drawn to and it sells.”
“If you are particularly sensitive to these stories, I would suggest that you limit your exposure to negativity or at least balance it up by seeking out some good news stories,” she said and added: “Also combat the issue by putting the likelihood of a similar situation happening to you into context for example, considering that the probability of you or someone you know being kidnapped in your lifetime is so tiny, it is not worth worrying about.”
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