America is in an acute state of anxiety. For those of you who were concerned during the debt ceiling discussions, have been fearful during the stock market gyrations and are now panicking about your job, family and future, take a moment, take a deep breath and imagine that there is a better way. Because there is.
As human beings, our minds are prewired to react more strongly to negative information than positive information. This makes sense from an evolutionary psychology perspective: Negative information may mean threats to our survival, such as predators who may try to eat us. This is the reason that when a stranger gives you a nasty look it stays on your mind longer than when someone flashes a smile at you. This natural bias towards focusing on the negative becomes even more pronounced during times of uncertainty. When we don't know where to turn, anything that seems potentially dangerous grabs our attention and activates our primitive survival instincts.
The fight or flight system is quite useful when you are facing a specific physical threat, but it is not helpful when you are facing general uncertainty, which is really what this is about. In fact, our survival instincts actually steer us in the wrong direction and can quickly make the situation worse. What is needed during periods of uncertainty is not this primitive instinct toward biological survival, which drove investors to "sell, sell sell!" on Monday, but rather the capacity to use our higher brain centers to imagine a different future.
As a clinical psychologist, I don't treat nations, I treat people. In my work, I often see patients who experience intense, runaway anxiety (not unlike what happened on Monday) at just the time of a triumph or when things are about to turn for the better. Giving into the fear of the moment is both psychologically unpleasant and socially contagious. When other people see, or sense, that you are afraid, they focus on their instinctive reaction to seeing your fear and begin to experience terror themselves. Societal fear can quickly create an environment where your fears can come true simply by people behaving as though they are true. Regardless of the headlines suggesting the end is nigh, try taking a beat and doing something different: Imagine that all is not lost. Consider the ways that the future might actually be better than the present or the past.
When I am with a patient who is in the grip of such a panic, I suggest following these three steps in order to shift from fear to faith:
Your imagination is your greatest cognitive gift. It is also our greatest national asset. The ability to imagine a different and better future is the first step toward creating one. By recognizing, refocusing and re-imagining your circumstances you will feel better in the moment and shift from fear to faith. Using your mind's eye to envision a positive outcome can help calm you down and make better momentary decisions. Plus, you might just inspire others to do the same.
Ruth Bettelheim, Ph.D.: Anxiety in America: Behind the Health Care "Debate"
Psychologists Seeing “Market Anxiety” In Patients « CBS Miami
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"imagine" it will be all good, you'll feel better!
this will have absolutely zero impact on the external - and very real - factors cited at the outset of the article (and cited seemingly as legit stress-inducing factors), factors which are beyond the ability of the individual to control.
we could all imagine that 8 million jobs will reappear, and feel better for a moment,
or we could take some action: prosecute those responsible for the economic crash and resultant dearth of jobs through the biggest fraud in human history. might not bring back the jobs, but might just prevent a repeat performance of the fraud matinee and its attendant consequences which produce much anxiety
clinical psychology fails utterly to address real societal problems,
because addressing them must be done at the level of policy,
whereas clin. psych. operates at the level of the individual:
specifically by insisting that whatever negative emotions are manifest in the individual are
a) problematic (characteristic of disease or disorder)
b) able to be addressed adequately by the individual when in so many respects that is patently false
the author contends that "flight or fight" is natural, yet unproductive and misguided,
(and there is something to be said for that notion), however self-deception is not the answer as the country finds itself inching ever closer to anarchy on a daily basis: all current signs point to actually employing the "fight" response as becoming increasingly appropriate.
A big issue right now is people are feeling anxious, helpless and hopeless and therefore are taking less and less action. Maybe there are not enough jobs out there in a specific field, but does that mean you should not still apply for them? Explore your skills and see what else is out there? Spend time volunteering or getting more education? Budgeting better?
Clinical psychology isn't meant to fix the external problem, it's to strengthen the internal resolve of the individual so they can cope with those things beyond their control. Do not discount the value of this in changing a person's entire life or changing the face of the country. Hope and positive thinking goes a long way.
Sadly, we are being assaulted at every turn.
Ha! Just kidding... sorta...
Reducing our fear clears our thinking and we need that especially in times of trouble.
It's unfortunate that psychology cannot address the psychic aspect of this, but it is real. We are not alone in our heads with our thoughts. Other people's emotions can affect us even when we're not around them. I think it's important to be aware of that.
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
......Then you are an independent free thinker able to manage your own behavior in an effective way!
... please free yourself from the acute state of anxiety being created.
Basically, it's kind of like being a young girl turned out into a meat market where she is surrounded on all sides by predators. Everyone wants either a piece of your flesh or most of your money.
We'll worry about consequences another day.