Everything from changing goal posts, global weather events, the evolution of AI, and a certain figures in authority seemingly acting with a devil may care attitude; life just seems to be moving in all sorts of crazy directions.
Often, changes in the world can show themselves in the therapy room. Concerns around these changes and the impact they can have on different elements of our lives can be overwhelming, stressful and often leave us feeling helpless and lacking control.
What is it about all of this that can lead to anxiety?
Unpredictability/the unknown- at the basic level, none of us know what is going to happen in the future. However, the impact of everything that is changing and the rate at which this is happening means that anxieties can be increased. Added to this is the sense of not having anything to base predictions on as we might feel we are in unchartered waters meaning not only might the 'now' feel unstable, but the future looks uncertain.
What is useful to keep in mind is that dealing with the unknown and a certain amount of unpredictability is part of all of life; and in essence, we don’t know what is for us. Think about all the times that you have navigated uncertainty in life successfully- what did you do? How did help reduce your anxiety? What was the effect of it?
Speed- If we consider our grandparents; they will have seen astronomical changes in life (the evolution of phones, TVs, the progress in cars and their capabilities and huge strides forward in health care). These changes will have happened in the last 90 years or so and at a measured rate (in comparison with what we are experiencing now). What we are experiencing right now is these same huge leaps forward in many areas of life but in a condensed period of time. This leaves little time for getting used to, and processing, the changes that are taking place. What do they mean for us? What might be the impact on our lives going forward? How might it benefit me? What do I need to be careful of? In addition; the content of the things that are happening now throw our futures into the bracket of unpredictability and uncertainty used to be the things that we could rely on. We could budget for the things we needed and wanted, we knew what the weather was likely to be from week to week (depending on the season) and we could rely on technology to aid our lives- it does feel like the wheels have come off a little bit.
What might be helpful here is to recognise that though it feels fast, if we ground and breathe we can slow down our perception of the changes that are happening and this might give us the space to feel the changes and accommodate for them.
Dangers- there have been many reports in the media of these changes; both positive and negative. However, most of us will centre on the ones that fit into our own narrative and our ways of thinking, looking for the reports that fit with our viewpoint. Particular dangers that seem to resonate with most of us- impacts of these changes on work and employment, finances and world we might leave for future generations. Though these dangers are valid and important; my observation is that it is the feeling of this being an unknown quantity and what all these changes might mean that is the thing that causes and influences the feelings of anxiety. I have also noticed that there are issues of trust that influence people’s anxieties; questions around the validity of what is being reported- can I trust this? Is what it is telling me true or open to interpretation? How might it affect me? Am I safe and secure? Will all this exist in the future in the same way?
What might be helpful here is to sit with the feeling of having this in the periphery of life and to be able to isolate which are the issues we feel most worried about and make peace with what we cannot. We often have to accept that there will always be things we can’t change, but we can sure up those things that offer us what we need. For example, we can research validity of the sources that we are researching to be able to discount fears of not being able to trust what we are reading and hearing.
What might help in general
Ground yourself with activities that feel nurturing (reading, cooking, spending time in nature, connecting with loved ones)
Avoid the temptations of tech- doom scrolling, researching things that fit your narrative, etc
Spend time reflecting- what is it that concerns you (the narrative), what is the feeling that lies beneath it (the feelings that come up when you are considering it), what does that part of you need? (I am scared, I need comfort and reassurance)
Think about where you can accept these changes (for example accepting AI in writing something formal) and where you might want to step away (for example not allowing AI to create or alter imagery)
Seeking help with your anxiety
Anxiety is the body’s response to threat and danger and so anxiety around the issues raised are both natural and normal because there is perceived threat. However, when these anxieties start to impact your daily life and how you live it then it might be that help needs to be sought. Remember, our thoughts are just that, thoughts, they do not define us and we can reshape and reframe them if they are becoming unmanageable.
Look out for: disturbed sleep, memory issues, fear, relationship changes, irritability, disengagement with ‘normal’ (normal for you) life
If you feel that you need help or just want to talk about some of the issues raised then please contact: emma@yourspacecounselling.org