Surviving Uncertainty
Written by Brianna Peed, Graduate Student Intern
You can't control the future — but you can build the capacity to tolerate it. Houston anxiety therapists at Restoring Hope Counseling help clients find grounding when life feels unpredictable.
Uncertainty is, at its core, one of the most powerful anxiety triggers humans experience — and in a world that has served up a steady stream of the unexpected, many people are running on depleted nervous systems. At Restoring Hope Counseling in Houston, we work with clients navigating everything from personal life upheaval to broader existential anxiety about the state of the world. The goal isn't to manufacture certainty where none exists — it's to build your capacity to tolerate the unknown without being consumed by it. Here's how.
To start off, how do we recognize that our mental health may be suffering? You may be experiencing increased agitation towards things or people around you, increased sadness, increased anger, and/or increased frustration. There are many other signs but those mentioned are some easily identifiable ones you could be experiencing. If you feel like your emotions have become more intense and less controllable that may be a sign that you may need to take a little extra care of your mental health. This is NOT something to be ashamed of. We are all doing the best we can in the face of uncertainty and should be proud of the strength we have.
So, what should you do if you feel overwhelmed by the uncertainty?
Focus on what you can Control
Focusing on things that are out of your control will only increase stress and the feelings of helplessness. Instead of pouring all of your energy into worrying or focusing on something that you cannot control, direct that energy into the parts of your life that you can control. Things you CAN control are how you spend your time, what you say, who you spend your time with, how many times a day you smile, etc. Things you can NOT control are the weather, what other people do or say, the economy, what happens in the world around you, how long this pandemic lasts, etc. It may be beneficial to refocus energy from those things that you are not able to control because the more you think about them the more energy gets put into being upset that you cannot control them.
Stay in the Present
It seems like a lot of people at the moment are draining their energy worrying about what is going to happen in the future or thinking about what has happened in their past. While that is happening, the present is flying by and you do not get to enjoy the day for what it is. If this sounds like you try, to focus on what is going on right now. What tasks do you need to get done? What would be something fun to do that would make you happy? Even if you have nothing to do, enjoy that peace and enjoy that break, just try to avoid letting your mind wander to something that will disturb that peace.
Find the Positives
This can be hard because it always seems easy to get stuck in the negativity around us, but I guarantee you that it will be more beneficial to focus on the positives. Focus on what is going well and find the good in your life. Even if it is something seemingly small like your coffee being yummy or your dog being cute, they are still great things you can focus on to bring some positivity into your mindset. When negativity starts to spiral and that seems like all you are focusing on, stop, take some deep breaths and think about what is going well. Start with these things and remember to be kind to yourself. You are doing the best you can in these crazy times and there are professionals you can reach out to if you need help.
Remember that you are STRONG and AWESOME!
