Change happens. It can make life feel unsure, leading to stress and even anxiety. As dealing with unknown situations isn’t easy, worries and fears tend to grow stronger, which can make us feel overwhelmed and uncomfortable.
Unfortunately, not being able to predict the future could start a flow of negative thinking and emotions. But while uncertainty can be intimidating, it also offers a chance for us to grow and learn about ourselves.
By utilising some of the approaches below, we can have a better handle on things when new situations arise.
Online therapy services
While therapy is a good step to help people cope with anxiety, not everyone is able to commute to a health professional’s office. Indeed, anxiety might manifest in the inability to leave one’s home or travel long distances.
Thankfully, online therapy options can help those who find it safer and easier to seek help from home. Online therapists provide a secure and private space where you can discuss what you think and feel, as well as worries you have about the unknowns in life.
By using methods supported by research such as cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness therapy, or the psychodynamic approach, therapists can help those in need to create ways to cope better, become stronger, and face life’s challenges with greater success.
Emotional and practical coping strategies
Recognise and allow yourself to feel your emotions without self-criticism. Instead of pushing away or ignoring these tough feelings, treat yourself with kindness.
To get a better handle on unsure situations, it can be useful to engage in practical activities that create structure and routine. This could include establishing a plan for each day, aiming for small and achievable goals, or splitting work into smaller parts that are easier to accomplish.
Doing things that make you happy, such as your favourite hobbies, working out, or spending time with family or friends, can also help you gain control over your emotions and lower your stress.
Indeed, seeking help from trusted friends, relatives, support groups or a health professional can provide a safe space for you to share your feelings and get the understanding and support you need.
In addition, positive lifestyle changes can help: exercising often, following a healthy diet, and sleeping enough can make you stronger. Remember, a healthy body has a strong connection with a healthy mind.
Cultivate resilience
Coping with uncertainty involves cultivating resilience: the capacity to adjust and recover from challenges. Resilience doesn’t mean escaping or avoiding hard circumstances; instead, it focuses on nurturing skills and approaches to managing them well.
You can develop your ability to be resilient by nurturing a growth mindset, seeing change as a chance to learn and improve. When you reframe difficulties as opportunities to grow personally, you will be better able to face uncertainties with a positive outlook.
Read more articles by Dennis Relojo-Howell here.
Dennis Relojo-Howell is the managing director of Psychreg and host of ‘The DRH Show’. Connect with him on X at @dennisr_howell.