Panic is never helpful. Here are just a few of the reasons why:
It replaces disciplined thinking (Leaving the rational part of your brain impotent.)
It's contagious (People catch it from others, then spread it to others.)
It gives rise to a sense of unreality (This can't be true!)
It produces a failure of imagination (I can't see anything beyond the panic.)
It creates a loss of control (I'm helpless!)
It spawns a fear of impending doom (Oh, my God!)
Though being scared during these economic times may be unavoidable, panic makes things worse. So how can you prevent your worries from escalating into panic? Here are a few ideas:
Whenever you feel panic on the horizon, shift mental gears. Rather than focus on the fear; focus instead on what might be stimulating or opportunistic about these times. Yes indeed, this is counter-intuitive and may seem impossible. How can one shift direction when you're having trouble just trying to maintain your sanity?
Take your cue from trapeze artists. Picture yourself way above ground, trying to stay alive as you try to keep your balance until you're on more solid ground. Picture yourself leaning too far to the left. Uh-oh! What do you do to become more stabilized? Intuitively, your body knows the answer. You lean to the right until you feel steady. Then, once again, you become centered and start moving forward.
You may reject this analogy, claiming you cannot relate to a trapeze artist. Well, maybe not. So, let's form a different mental image, one even most 5 year olds can do. Ride a bicycle. Your training wheels come off when you know how to balance yourself without panicking. Now, if a 5-year-old can shift gears, so can you!
Another approach is to view challenging times as an opportunity to learn something new. When you regret decisions you've made, remind yourself why you initially thought it was a good idea (i.e. perhaps you did make money on your investment before you lost it). Or maybe there's a part of you that believed it makes sense to take more risks in life.
Same old, same old can become too routine Ð too boring. So remind yourself that in Yogi Berra's words, It ain't over till it's over. Instead of focusing on what you should have done, be more mindful of what your next step is. And have faith that you will emerge from this downturn - if not richer, then wiser.
Avoid immersing yourself in an Oh, My God, this is a disaster attitude. Don't assume that whatever you're facing is insurmountable for you. Learn to regard challenges and hurdles as essential elements of life.Attitudes require adjustment, accommodation, and alteration. Who said that life is destined to be easy? Or that a painful setback is not to be expected? Darwin's greatest gift to us is not that it's the strongest who survive, but it's those who are the most adaptable.
Be your own best friend. Monitor your self-talk. Give a red light to your panicky communications, a green light to your nurturing ones. Say things to yourself like, You will survive this. All is not lost. Think. You can learn from your mistakes. Ask yourself: What went wrong? What are my options? What are my choices? What ideas can I apply here? What specific resources might I explore? This kind of self-talk will not only build your self-confidence but will also help you to speak more productively with others when you decide to communicate or consult with them.
Copyright 2009
Linda Sapadin, Ph.D. is a psychologist and personal coach in private practice who specializes in helping people enrich their lives, enhance their relationships and overcome self-defeating patterns of behavior. For more information about her work, contact her at lsapadin@drsapadin.com or visit her website at http://www.psychwisdom.com/.
