How to Feel Like Yourself Again After Survival Mode with God

Introduction

There was a time in my life when I didn't feel like myself anymore.

I felt like I didn't know what I liked to do for fun, what hobbies I enjoyed, what my interests were, or, honestly, who I even was as a person anymore.

And to me, that was the hardest part.

I didn't know my purpose. I didn't know what lit me up inside. I didn't know what made me genuinely happy. I felt disconnected from myself, and because I didn't know how to find myself again, I would constantly try to find myself in other people.

What I mean by that is looking at social media and living vicariously through other people's lives.

I would look at old classmates, strangers online, and other people's lifestyles and compare my life to theirs. I would see where they were in life and wonder why I wasn't there yet. Sometimes I would feel like I was "left behind."

But what I'm realizing now is that I wasn't actually left behind.

I was finding myself.

And in that process, I was right on time.

Learning how to feel like yourself again after survival mode can be tough. Sometimes it feels like you're a sculpture that is constantly being worked on, broken apart, reshaped, and put back together until you become something beautiful.

And honestly, that's how I see my healing journey.

I'm still becoming.

So I want to share some of the things that have helped me find myself again after survival mode, while also growing closer to God.

Psalm 42:11 ~ “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.”

1. I Started Reading the Bible

Man, the Bible has helped me a LOT on my journey, and I'm really starting to feel the difference. 

In August 2024, I started my Bible journey, and one of the biggest blessings I've received from it has been getting to know God and Jesus on a deeper level.

And no, I'm not trying to sound over-religious. It's simply the truth for me.

When I started getting closer to God, I felt like a HUGE weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

When I was younger, I believed in God, but I wasn't really that close to Him. As I got older, I started having this realization that I actually NEED God in my life.

That realization changed a lot for me.

Of course, reading the Bible doesn't mean that every day suddenly becomes perfect. There are still days when I want to cry. There are still moments when I reflect on the past. There are still things I'm working through.

And that's okay.

Healing isn't linear.

But throughout my Bible journey, I've noticed so much progress in myself. I've become happier, freer, and more at peace. Little by little, I've noticed my world changing and getting better.

Getting closer to God and building a relationship with Him has been freeing because God no longer feels like the “Man Upstairs.”

He feels more like my best friend.

And I'm not even going to lie—when I first started praying to God, it was mostly me saying, “Dear God...” Lmao.

And that's okay.

If you're on your own journey of healing with God, my advice is to get a little more intimate with Him. Tell Him what's actually on your mind. Talk to Him about your fears, your dreams, your struggles, your mistakes, your hopes, and even the random little things.

Talk to Him like you're talking to your closest friend.

As I've gotten closer to God, I've also found myself getting to know myself more and more. I'm learning who I am, what I enjoy, what matters to me, and what I want my life to look like.

I'm becoming a little better each day, and I consider that a blessing.

Jeremiah 30:17 ~ “But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds, declares the Lord.”

2. I Went to Therapy

Going to therapy has helped me a LOT.

In therapy, we talked about setting boundaries, practicing self-care, practicing self-love, developing hobbies, noticing triggers, establishing routines, expressing emotions, and becoming a healthier version of yourself.

When I started group therapy, I noticed that I became much more grounded and stable.

I started developing more hobbies. I practiced more self-care. I spent less time on social media. I created a healthier routine. I started paying attention to my emotions instead of constantly pushing them aside.

I'll admit, expressing my emotions wasn't always easy for me.

Sometimes it was difficult to explain exactly how I felt because I'm not naturally someone who expresses every emotion out loud. But the experience helped me tremendously, and I'm still learning how to communicate my feelings better.

I also met some really cool people who were on their own healing journeys, and that was a blessing.

The therapists and people I met helped me look deeper and get closer to the root of some things, which I really appreciated.

Since starting therapy, I've noticed that I'm not just surviving anymore.

I'm calmer.

I'm more grounded.

I'm learning how to actually live my life instead of constantly trying to get through it. 

And that's a blessing in itself.

Psalm 34:18 ~ “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

3. I Started Practicing Gratitude

This is a big one for me.

I love expressing my gratitude toward God because He has brought me through so many storms that I honestly didn't think I would survive.

I'm still learning how to practice gratitude consistently, but I'm learning to thank God for the little things.

I'm thankful that I woke up this morning.

I'm thankful for my family.

I'm thankful for the abundance in my life.

I'm thankful for a roof over my head.

I'm thankful for the clothes on my back.

I'm thankful for food on the table.

I'm thankful for clean, running water.

Sometimes we can become so focused on what we don't have that we forget to appreciate what is already in front of us.

I've noticed that when I intentionally practice gratitude, I can approach my day with a different mindset.

So here's my challenge for you—and for myself:

Write down at least three things you're grateful for every day.

They don't have to be huge.

Maybe you're grateful for your favorite book. Maybe you're grateful for your morning coffee. Maybe you're grateful that you got to laugh today.

Start small.

Sometimes the little things are actually the things that make life feel beautiful again.

Psalm 107:1 ~ “O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.”

4. Start Journaling

Journaling has become one of my favorite hobbies.

I like to journal and reflect on my life, my emotions, my thoughts, and my relationship with God.

One thing I like doing is reading a chapter of the Bible and then reflecting on it through journal questions.

I'll read the chapter slowly and think about what it means. Then I'll answer reflection questions based on what I read.

Sometimes my answers make me stop and think:

“Wow...this is how I've been feeling all along?”

It can honestly be surprising.

When you've been in survival mode for a long time, you can become so focused on getting through the day that you don't always stop to ask yourself what's actually going on inside.

Journaling gives me a chance to slow down.

It gives me space to think.

It gives me space to notice patterns.

And sometimes it helps me discover things about myself that I didn't realize were there.

If you're trying to connect with yourself, journaling can be a simple place to start.

So I encourage you to look back at your old journal entries every once in a while. Don't just write your reflections and forget about them.

Read them.

Look at what you wrote months ago.

What has changed?

What hasn't changed?

What are you learning about yourself?

What has God been showing you?

Your journal can become a beautiful record of your healing journey.

And just a little disclaimer: I'm not a licensed therapist. If you're struggling with your mental health or need professional support, please consider talking with a licensed mental health professional.

2 Timothy 1:7 ~ “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and a sound mind.”

5. I Started Practicing Self-Care and Self-Love

This is HUGE for me, and it's something I'm still working on incorporating more into my routine.

I LOVE practicing Christian self-care.

Taking a shower.

Doing my hair.

Brushing my teeth.

Washing my face.

Exercising.

Putting on a little makeup when I feel like it.

Dressing up nicely when I go out to eat.

Reading a good book.

Cooking something delicious.

Resting when I need to.

But I've learned that self-care isn't just bubble baths, bath bombs, candles, and looking pretty.

Self-care can also mean taking care of your body.

It can mean exercising because you want to feel stronger.

It can mean eating nourishing food.

It can mean saying no when you're tired.

It can mean establishing healthier boundaries.

It can mean resting without feeling guilty.

It can mean putting your phone down.

It can mean doing something simply because it makes you happy.

And if you're trying to figure out how to find yourself again, I highly recommend experimenting with different hobbies.

You might be thinking:

“But I don't even know what I like anymore!”

I completely understand.

That's why you don't have to figure it all out at once.

Start small.

For me, it started with little things like doing puzzles on my phone. Eventually, that turned into gaming, and I realized that I actually still really loved video games. That hobby had simply gotten buried under stress and survival mode.

Then I started reading again.

Then cooking.

Then I started discovering other hobbies and interests.

And eventually, I started realizing:

“Wait...I actually like this.”

That's how you can start reconnecting with yourself after a difficult season.

Try things.

Be curious.

Let yourself change.

You don't have to become the exact person you were before your difficult season. You may discover that you're becoming someone new—and that's okay too.

Keep seeking God. Keep learning about yourself. Keep trying new things.

You might be surprised by what you discover.

Psalm 139:14 ~ “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

6. I Started Exercising

I'm slowly and gradually starting to like this one.

I didn't really love working out at first, but now I'm beginning to enjoy it.

And yes, exercise can be part of weight loss, but that's not the only reason I exercise.

I want to feel better.

I want more stamina.

I want more energy.

I want to feel stronger.

And I want to support my mental and emotional well-being too.

One thing that surprised me was how much better I could feel after moving my body.

When I first read about the connection between exercise and mental well-being, I honestly wasn't sure how much of a difference it would make.

But stubborn me eventually had to admit:

Okay...maybe exercise really does help. LOL.

I don't work out every day, and I don't think I need to.

For me, consistency matters more than intensity.

Even getting up and moving for a little while can feel like a win.

I'm slowly noticing improvements in my stamina, how easily I move around, and how I feel afterward.

And honestly?

I feel GREAT.

That's a blessing in itself.

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 ~ “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”

Reflection Questions

What part of myself do I feel like I am rediscovering in this season?

What has God been teaching me about who I am?

What thoughts or beliefs about myself do I need to surrender to God?

How has my relationship with God changed the way I see myself?

What am I grateful that God has brought me through?

What hobbies, interests, or things that bring me joy am I beginning to rediscover?

Where have I been comparing my journey to other people's journeys?

What does Psalm 139:14 teach me about how God sees me?

What does healing and restoration look like for me right now?

Who am I becoming now that I am learning to live instead of simply survive?

If you're ready to gently reconnect with your mind, body, and faith, download my free 7-Day Christian Reset Workbook. It will help you slow down, reflect, and begin rebuilding your life with God one peaceful day at a time.