A Wonderful Storm...

“And once the storm is over, you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure, whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm’s all about.”—Haruki Murakami

A bout of anxiety or depression may appear like a sudden heavy downpour or a sudden powerful storm. You did not expect such a surge of oppressive feelings. Now, you are overwhelmed and helpless; you panic: the turbulence of powerful, negative thoughts has caught you.

You want to hide from these dark clouds nesting above your head—or at least escape from them for a while. In an instant, life has become unbearable. It has turned black and white. Everything is bleak.

Almost anything could be the trigger of that awful tempest: an insignificant or uncompassionate remark from somebody, an idle or passing thought, seeing an object…

Sometimes, calling on a friend can bring some relief. A compassionate person will understand that you are going through difficult times and will provide the best help they can based on their understanding and capacity. But once you’re alone, the attack could come back; and this could happen in the middle of the night.

Listening to your favorite songs or some calming music can work; these distract you and help you focus elsewhere.

A walk in nature can be very soothing and will surely provide some relief. Nature is a powerful healer.

But not dealing with the storm squarely will not bring lasting relief. Anytime it can come back. And just thinking about this probability might give rise to some painful feelings.

However, there is a better way to deal with this situation. You know that the overwhelming emotions are sticky, they will reclaim their ground. Eventually, they will return to you; they do not want to leave you alone. These uncomfortable feelings somehow want you to recognize and integrate them.

So, respond present. Be there for them, acknowledge them, accept that you are experiencing them for the moment. Feel their intensity in your body or, more precisely, locate them in any specific part of your body where they are churning. Befriend them for a while, give them your full attention, watch them subside and let true relief rise as you come into the present moment.

These overwhelming feelings make your “wonderful storm” which is truly a gift. And once you’re not afraid of these feelings and stand with them, they reveal your actual strength, which makes you ready and equipped to deal with other storms.

“Even the most intense storm ends eventually; in fact the strongest storms are brief.”—Lao Tzu