Uncertainty was one of the issues that I mentioned last month when I looked at why the COVID-19 lockdown is a particularly anxiety-provoking situation.

We’re uncertain about many things at the moment; practical ones like our jobs, the future, when the lockdown will be released and how we (and our loved ones) will be affected should we come in contact with the virus. But, also, emotional ones like our own ability to adapt to the changing world around us. And even when we’re not in lockdown, difficulty in dealing with uncertainty is often something that comes when you experience anxiety.

Ambiguity, uncertainty and anxiety

Our brains work on a ‘better safe than sorry’ principle. They are hard-wired to react to uncertainty with fear because, if life is unpredictable, then anything could happen – and that ‘anything’ could be dangerous. Fear leads to worry and stress, which makes it harder to think rationally and carefully.

Uncertainty triggers ‘what if …?’ thinking. In an effort to cover every eventuality, your thoughts spiral around trying to work out the nature and solutions of every possible scenario. This, of course, makes you feel overwhelmed and increases the difficulty of rational thought and planning.

The inability to plan and organise things or make decisions can make you feel hopeless or inept. This has an impact on your confidence, self-esteem and thinking patterns. You find yourself thinking ‘I should know what to do’. If you keep telling yourself inside that you aren’t coping well, or should be coping better, that makes you feel even more out of control and increases your stress levels.

It is harder to make decisions if you don’t know what the outcome of the decision will be. The more uncertain the outcome, the harder the decision is. This can lead to making decisions based on a knee-jerk reaction (see the box) or to avoiding them altogether for as long as you can.

You might think that, if we have less information and more uncertainty, we’d make decisions more carefully, but studies show the opposite is true [1]. In fact, if we have to make a decision without the information we think we need, we

  • Make decisions more quickly, leading to a higher likelihood of mistakes.
  • Make decisions that make us feel better right now, rather than considering the long-term outcomes.
  • Make riskier decisions to try to feel better more quickly

How to deal with uncertainty

  • Accept that certainty is simply not possible in most circumstances. Even everyday decisions like what to have for tea can have unexpected consequences.
  • Do your research where you can – in circumstances like the lockdown, this probably means restricting your reading to a few reliable sources and ignoring alarmist, unproven and sensational ones.
  • Focus on what matters and don’t sweat the small stuff.
  • Don’t dwell on problems: put a reasonable time limit on decisions to avoid prevarication.
  • Break down important decisions into smaller pieces, which individually might have more predictable outcomes.
  • Looking at a problem from a different point of view can be helpful. Seek support, or imagine what advice someone else might give you.
  • Take action on those parts of the situation you can control, get a routine and practice good self-care based on physical and mental good health.

Affirmations

Affirmations can help you let go of your need for certainty if you practice them regularly. Read THIS ARTICLE to use them to the best effect. Here are some affirmations to improve your tolerance of uncertainty:

I approach uncertainty with an open mind.

I believe in myself and my abilities to make it through challenging times.

Remembering my accomplishments gives me the confidence to tackle something unfamiliar.

My past successes prove that I can tackle the newness in front of me.

My life is filled with wonderful blessings because I take on challenges with confidence.

Reference: [1] Starcke, K. and Brand, M. (2016). Effects of Stress on Decisions Under Uncertainty: A Meta-Analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 142, 909–933. DOI:10.1037/bul0000060

Author: Debbie Waller is a professional therapist, specialising in stress, anxiety and related issues, including gut-directed hypnotherapy to help with the symptoms of IBS. She also offers EMDR/Blast which is used for trauma, PTSD, phobias and OCD. For more information on any of these services, phone 01977 678593. 

Researcher: Rae Waller is an experienced researcher and writer with a special interest in mental health issues. Rae offers drafting, fact-checking, proofreading, and editing for anything from a leaflet to a website, a blog or a book, and can also provide diversity reading, especially for LGBTQ+ and autism-related issues. Please contact rae@debbiewaller.com for further information.