What the People Who Are Holding it Together Know
A therapist’s advice for fighting anxiety in the midst of chaos
People vary in their ability to adapt in times of stress and uncertainty — from not knowing if we’ll see our families this holiday to not knowing if election results will be definitive.
Some might shut down, isolating and disengaging from the world’s problems. Others tend to lash out or become controlling, trying to force the world around them and the people in it to behave a certain way. But look at almost any group, and you’ll find a few people who seem to be able to hold onto their thinking when others are letting their anxiety run the show. They are able to stay focused on the challenges of the present, as well as who they’d like to be in the midst of chaos. How do they do it?
Those people know one thing: When the world is changing quickly, you don’t need certainty — you just need yourself. Because the “self,” who you are and what you believe, can be a constant among many changing variables. You don’t have to predict the next disaster, or how people will respond to it. You just need to get clearer with yourself about who you’d like to be in this era of uncertainty.
