10 Things That Help Me Through Difficult Seasons: Faith, Psychology & Gentle Survival

There are seasons in life that don’t just feel difficult — they feel relentless. Seasons where everything takes more effort, emotions sit closer to the surface, and simply getting through the day can feel like a quiet act of courage. In those moments, I’ve found myself searching for things that help me through difficult seasons — gentle anchors that support my mind, steady my heart, and remind my soul that I’m not alone.

If you’re in one of those seasons, I want you to know this first:

You are not weak. You are not broken. You are not failing.

You are human. And you are carrying more than most people realise.

Over the years, through chronic illness, trauma recovery, mental health struggles, spiritual wrestling, and long stretches of uncertainty, I’ve slowly gathered a set of gentle tools that help me survive the hardest days. 

This isn’t a list of quick fixes or productivity hacks. These are gentle lifelines. Practices that support the mind, soothe the nervous system, and anchor the soul.

If you’re walking through a difficult season right now, I hope these bring comfort and permission to slow down.

Some seasons are about growth, others are about survival!

If your capacity is limited, your energy is low, your emotions feel fragile, or your faith feels quieter than usual, you are not doing life wrong. You are responding wisely to a heavy season.

I’m reminding myself of this, too, as I write! I’ve been fainting for 29 years, diagnosed of Neurocardiogenic Syncope 15 years ago, 3 more diagnoses (Chronic Fatigue, Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) and Functional Neurological Disorder (FND)) this last year, 2 and a half years in this season of particularly bad health, 8 months being practically housebound, two of which were bedbound. So, you think I would be a master of finding things that help me through difficult seasons! I’m not, BTW! But feel it’s important to share what I learn as and when I can, as I’m sure I’m not alone, and you may benefit from these things that help me through difficult seasons too!

These tools are not obligations. They are invitations. Take what helps and leave what doesn’t.