2020-03-24 Don’t Try to Fix Anyt

It’s been a little fascinating and a little concerning to see just how many of us have turned into anxiety-fueled experts as pandemic anxiety has taken hold over the past week. My social media feed is now full of new epidemiologists, homeschool specialists, and armchair psychologists, all offering solutions for how to survive social isolation or educate a bored child.

Recognize your anxious fixing

In times of distress, your anxiety wants you to solve problems as quickly as possible. When the world is burning, it’s normal to run to the closest fire and stomp the hell out of it.

Work on your cognitive flexibility

Cognitive flexibility is perhaps one of the greatest tools to have in a time of uncertainty. There are two components to cognitive flexibility: one, being able to change how you think about a problem, and two, being able to let go of solutions that aren’t working.

No one knows when things will get better, but this much is certain: any effort to manage your anxiety and do your best thinking will not go to waste. Your stockpiled food may expire, and your to-do list may become irrelevant, but you can always work on being a resource to your future self.