Dear young friends! 

Life is unpredictable. We never know when something unexpected or untoward might happen to us. It could be the loss of a parent or family member, a life-altering accident, loss of house or property, a parent or family member getting diagnosed with a terminal illness like cancer, parents getting divorced, financial crisis, etc. We hit rock bottom when such events happen in our life. We don't know how to deal with these kinds of crises because we aren't taught about these things in our school/college curriculum. Our textbooks don't have solutions for such crises in life. So we ourselves have to figure out how to take care of ourselves and our near and dear ones during such trying times.

Here are some tips to emerge stronger out of a crisis and rise like a Phoenix despite all odds:

1. Accept the bad news. 

When we hear bad news, we tend to go into denial, thinking this can't be happening to us or this shouldn't be happening to us. But trust me, the sooner you accept reality, the better it'll be for you and your loved ones. Accept the situation. Only then you'll be able to take action to resolve the crisis. 

2. It's okay to not stay strong. 

Often we tell people to stay strong when they're going through a crisis. Even I have said it to my friends or they've said it to me while coping with a crisis. But it's not fair to expect someone to be strong during a crisis. One should cry or express one's feelings during such tough times. Crying it out helps in healing. Even sharing it with people who genuinely care about you can help you relieve the burden.

3. Don't hesitate to take help. 

Sometimes, just sharing stuff with friends or people who care might not be enough to deal with a crisis. In that case, please don't hesitate to take help from a professional. Your school counsellor could help. Talking to an adult you trust could help. Just remember it's okay to ask for help and reach out. Emotional support is very important while dealing with a crisis. 

4. Take care of yourself, you're precious. 

Sometimes, we tend to skip meals and compromise on our sleep while going through a crisis. But please remember that it's very important to take care of your body and mind when you're in the midst of a crisis. Go for walks or do yoga and meditation. It'll really help in calming your mind and facing the crisis. Make sure you eat meals on time and also eat healthy food. Some of us tend to engage in emotional binging and gorge on unhealthy food while battling a crisis. Please avoid that. Also, try to get ample sleep. 

5. Make decisions by imagining what advice you'd give to others. 

Sometimes, we need to take life-changing decisions during moments of crises. And when you're feeling low, those tough decisions might seem impossible to make. So, whether you have to decide which medical procedure to try, or you need to find a new place to live, ask yourself what advice you'd give to a trusted friend if that friend was going through the same crisis. This will help in keeping emotions at bay during the decision-making process and lead you to take the right decisions. 

6. Focus on the important things. 

This is easier said than done. When you're in the midst of a crisis, you might have to focus on the important things and ignore the rest. However, it might be difficult. So you can create a to-do list that will help you prioritise on what needs to get done first. Write your list on a piece of paper so that you don't forget. During a crisis, we tend to forget things because the mind is constantly occupied with sad thoughts.

7. Have belief in yourself. 

No matter how tough the going gets, don't lose hope. Say to yourself, "This too shall pass," and repeat it to yourself as often as you can. This will keep the negative thoughts away and help you move ahead to battle the crisis with confidence.

8. Little things count. 

You might feel overwhelmed by all the things you need to change or resolve after a crisis and it's normal to feel that way. So you can take baby steps to start making those changes. Every step in that direction counts. Whether you need to sort through your belongings after your house has been demolished or you need to lose weight to resolve a health crisis, start by identifying something you can do immediately to begin with. It's the little things that lead to the bigger things getting done. 

9. Maintain a semblance of normalcy. 

While dealing with a crisis, you might feel like your entire world has become topsy turvy. During such times, doing something that helps you feel "normal" might help. You could watch your favourite cartoon at a particular time like you did earlier. You could go for a morning/evening walk like you always did before the crisis. Find an activity that you can continue during the crisis to have some semblance of normalcy in your life. 

10. Rise like a Phoenix!

After the crisis is over, take time to recuperate and heal. It could be through a family trip (if it's a family crisis) or simply a visit to your favourite ice-cream parlour. Take steps to heal and rise again like a Phoenix. 

I sincerely hope those of you who are going through a crisis might find strength to battle the crisis and emerge victorious. Best wishes!