Dealing with uncertainty…

The impact that uncertainty has on our lives varies from person to person. We all know that person who is cool as a cucumber, the person who is typically anxious, and many people who fall in between the two.

It’s normal to feel stressed around uncertainty. Our nervous systems and bodies are constantly monitoring our environment and the stimulus around us to make sure we are safe and okay.

Often, people who have histories of trauma have a more difficult time dealing with uncertainty as well as people who live in uncertain conditions (and certainly those who are dealing with both!).

What helps me?  Here’s a formula I use for myself and share with my clients all the time. Maybe this will help you or someone else you know too:

Knowing myself + noticing and naming what is happening + having a great list of tools and resources I can utilize for myself and/or from others + community (family, friends, and professional supports like my therapist, coach, RMT, doctor, colleagues, etc.) = help in dealing with it to support my health and well-being.

#1. Know yourself: emotionally, how you think, how your body holds stress, how your nervous system responds to BOTH for what’s going on inside of you and how you treat yourself as well as with how you are treated by others and the external environment (context is everything).

#2. Figure out your entry point to coping with the stress: once you’ve noticed and named what’s going on, you can determine which tool or strategy will be most useful.

For example: “I know that logically, this situation will pass, but I can’t stop shaking and feeling so alert.” (My encouragement in this case: use a strategy to help calm your nervous system so your body doesn’t feel so alert).

#3. Know you are not alone. There are many times when we have to do for ourselves, and that’s a good thing–but sometimes accessing your support is the best thing you can do for yourself. Humans thrive in community.

Here Together,

Lauren