{"id":1563,"date":"2016-03-03T21:34:06","date_gmt":"2016-03-03T21:34:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/greenwoodcounselingcenter.com\/?p=1563"},"modified":"2018-03-26T19:19:25","modified_gmt":"2018-03-26T19:19:25","slug":"handling-drama","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/greenwoodcounselingcenter.com\/handling-drama\/","title":{"rendered":"Handling “Drama”"},"content":{"rendered":"
\u201cDrama\u201d, the catch-all phrase that is often used to describe an overreaction to stress, disagreements, negativity and other sometimes frustrating life events. Many people believe it is avoidable and unnecessary, even dramatic people feel this way, when on the wrong side of it. However, stress is a constant in life. Some situations will naturally cause commotion, such as losing one\u2019s job or ending a relationship with a significant other. How one chooses to deal with those circumstances can bring more rapid peace or can exacerbate the problem.<\/p>\n
The dilemma with this is that there is a fine line between natural stress and an overreaction that can lead to worse issues. \u201cCreating drama\u201d in this sense can be defined as, but not limited to, antagonizing others, placing an unreasonable amount of significance on a small incident, manipulation, gossip, or provoking turmoil between relationships or among a group of people. Almost everyone has been a victim of created drama at some point or another, and it often can bleed into other areas of one\u2019s life causing unhappiness and unneeded stress. So how do we cope with this sort of created drama, particularly if we are not the ones who created it?<\/p>\n
When someone does come to you with an issue, see that as a testament to the safety they feel in you. You can set the tone for those conversations by helping them to shift from an emotional stance to a more balanced, softer stance simply by listening. Do not buy into the extreme emotional thinking that they may be experiencing. Maintain good boundaries, and remember that we have all been there. We have all been overly upset at times, and we all have close friends or family members who have felt that way as well. Keep kindness at the center: kindness to those who need the shoulder to cry on, and kindness to others that may be the subject of the discussion. By remembering there are two sides to every story, and reminding yourself of your own good boundaries, you will be better able to manage tough situations without succumbing to others\u2019 negative feelings. In fact, you may find that they rebound much more quickly as well.<\/p>\n