Wars, cost of living crises, extreme weather events, pandemics, terror attacks, and more fill our news headlines, creating stress and anxiety. How can we feel at ease in such an uncertain world?
Many people report feeling that the last few years in particular have been especially difficult for them.
In fact, social scientists have referred to an ongoing “polycrisis” as the reason why many of us feel more uncertain or even adrift–a widespread sense of unease arising from stacked crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change events, and geopolitical instability such as the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Huge advancements in technology (including developments in AI), the proliferation of information in the digital age, and decreased trust in social institutions are also contributing factors.
he psychological and social impact of these factors is significant. You might find yourself feeling more anxious and stressed when you think about the future, feeling more depressed or even burnt out, or finding you have reduced emotional capacity for daily life. You may feel overstimulated and find yourself switching off from the news cycle in order to cope.
Yet while many external forces like major global events are outside our realm of influence, the good news is that we can take steps to reduce feelings of uncertainty and boost our mental health.
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Some things that may help you cope with feelings of uncertainty include:
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