Fear of uncertainty is real and inevitable part of our life. Our brain is wired in a way that we respond to uncertainty with fear and anxiety. The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to uncertainty with regards to health, employment, economy, relationships, etc. The fear of losing a job, interpersonal tensions, loss of loved ones, future related anxieties drain you emotionally. Every one of us differs in the threshold of tolerance and coping capacity with many factors affecting the same. Sometimes this fear of ’what-if’ causes distress, anxiety, and pulls a person down to the feeling of hopelessness and helplessness. Indeed it is not possible to eliminate uncertainties from life but for sure we can successfully deal with the fear of the unknown and defeat the anxiety associated with it. Hence, here are a few tips for overcoming fear of uncertainty.
Practice Acceptance
Indeed uncertainties are an unavoidable part of daily life. We often try to avoid or somehow eliminate uncertainties either by repressing them or by constantly worrying and planning for the predicted future. Thus, you might experience some temporary relief and feel as though you’re in control, but in reality, you aren’t. Uncertainty is an unavoidable part of life, and there are certainly healthier ways to cope with it. Not all uncertainties are bad, life does have amazingly good surprises for us but we often tend to fuel our predictions with negative and fearful ones.
Identify and take action
It is very important to identify your thought processes and triggers related to uncertainties. You can change your irrational fears and your thoughts associated with them by recognising the source of these fears. Knowledge about your emotions and fear also enables you to actively face the fear of uncertainties and helps you learn to adapt and become resilient.
Focus on things which you can control
Your future is determined by what you do today. One of the advantages of accepting uncertainties in life is that it helps us prepare for future endures. It helps us grow and consistently work harder to remain in the race for betterment. A shift in your focus towards what you can control helps your mind to reflect upon coping and problem-solving skills you possess. This insight enhances your confidence, eliminates ineffective worrying and helps in overcoming fear of uncertainty.
Build resilience through healthy coping and self care
We can manage our strong emotions elicited by difficulty and maintain focus and perspective by developing coping skills and engaging in self-care. These also help us to regain normalcy in day-to-day functioning by reducing overall stress and anxiety levels. There are several healthy coping techniques like meditation, mindfulness, deep breathing, yoga, physical exercise, relaxation practices, and engagement in healthy hobbies. These techniques enable maintaining and managing emotions by maintaining a positive mind and body connection. Self-care and improving everyday habits such as getting a sufficient amount of sleep, eating a healthy diet, maintaining hygiene, etc are other important factors that fuel energy levels and help to prevent mood swings and emotional imbalance.
Get help and support
Indeed fear of uncertainties causes distress and anxiety. Get professional help and seek support if you’re having a hard time handling the stress associated with uncertainty. There are mental health experts such as psychologists who are able to help people deal with stress in healthy ways in order to overcome any fear of uncertainty that they may have.