Taking Charge-Regaining Control of Your Life

If you feel you have control over your own life, you have gotten over the first hurdle to creating change in your circumstances. If you don?t feel you have control over your life, it is important that you take back control. It is very difficult to feel well when you are not in charge of your own life. Answering the following questions and making the suggested lists could help you figure out how to regain control of your life.

• Do you feel that you have control over your own life?
• Or do you feel other people control your life and you can?t do anything about the way your life is?
• What controls your life? List things such as your children, your spouse, a disability, lack of money, etc.
• List things you could do to take back control over your life. For instance, you could:
• talk with your spouse about issues related to control
• perhaps the two of you could see a counselor together
• ask your children to take care of some of their own needs and help out with chores
• get a part- or full-time job doing something your enjoy
• attend a class on money management
• learn sign language
• List what you think is keeping you from doing the things you need to do to take back control over your life. For instance, you:
  • have lack of motivation
  • have low self-esteem
  • feel like its too much trouble
  • feel scared
  • do not want to upset others
  • want to avoid the anger of family members
• List the benefits of taking back control over your life. For instance, you would:
  
  • feel better physically and emotionally
  • have less stress
  • have more time to do the things you enjoy
  • have time to take good care of yourself
  • feel more fulfilled
  • improve the quality of your life

Sourced in July 2017 from:

Center for Mental Health Services
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 15-99
Rockville, MD 20857
SMA-3718