It’s all around us. The fear of getting ill and/or being away from work, possible financial difficulties. Our elderly and vulnerable getting ill and not surviving. The shops running out of food, no medicine available and getting stuck. The list goes on.
What has the impact been so far? How are you coping with the unknown?
A lot of us have tendencies to catastrophise and expect the worse. What can we do to be in a better headspace?
‘Catastrophising, or catastrophic thinking, is a form of negative thinking where a person thinks the worst about a situation,’ explains cognitive behavioural therapist Marie McGeechan of The Albany Centre. ‘This can lead to unhelpful emotions such as stress or anxiety, and can become a problem if not addressed.’ The tendency to catastrophise can be linked back to early experiences, which shape the way we think. ‘It can also be exacerbated by particular situations and emotional states,’ Marie says. ‘For instance, when we’re feeling depressed, we have a negative view on things which can lead to an increased likelihood of catastrophising. ‘Similarly, if we feel anxious, we tend to overestimate the chances of something bad happening, while also underestimating our ability to cope.’
The skill of living in the now and accepting that we can’t control everything around us is a good one to have.
What is really in your control? How can you help yourself to stay healthy?
I think most of us have read up on all precautions and are doing as much as we can in that regard. So, as far as the mental side of things goes, here is a good article from Psychology today to read as the principal of thinking is the same, no matter what the fear is about:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/friendship-20/201611/5-ways-stop-catastrophizing
