Beyond COVID-19, public instances of racial injustice, and a pending election, some of us are even more uncertain about our professional and personal lives. Our self-talk may have been “It’s all temporary...I can get through this,” and then another month passes and we ask ourselves “How long is this temporary going to last? How am I and my family going to get through this?”

We all need safety, connection, and satisfaction. The changes, instability, and uncertainty can threaten these needs, and we are left feeling vulnerable and helpless. That vulnerability can lead us to only focus on those things that are out of our control and create a negative filter. We need to challenge that negative filter for a more accurate picture and focus on those things that are in our control or influence. Confront our need for certainty (it’s usually the things we didn’t plan for which help us grow). Learn to better tolerate the inevitable uncertainty of life and develop coping skills to manage anxiety and stress. Please refer to Coping with Uncertainty article to learn more about creating a healthier response to uncertainty. Additionally, Coping with Uncertainty: 10 Simple Solutions by Bruce Elmer, Ph.D and Moshe Torem, M.D., contains tangible skills you can start practicing today. Practicing healthier coping and resiliency skills can lead to building a sense of relief, direction, and strength. There is hope and opportunity through change and uncertainty.

If you prefer a more personalized approach to learn coping strategies, you may wish to use your EAP counseling benefit. Contact EAP at 800-678-6265 or eap@osumc.edu. You can also submit an on line service request for counseling click here and for work life referrals, click here.

Tune into our webinar “How to be Resilient in Uncertain Times” on August 19, 2020; register here.

 

photo credit: istockphoto.com