A few years ago I wrote a blog article about ways to control or not control our lives. In that article, I talked about the factors in our lives that are out of our control and what factors we can control. Never has it felt more applicable than right now. This new, uncharted situation we all find ourselves in might leave you feeling confused, uncertain of the future, unsure of what to believe, and frustrated with it all.
You can’t control the pandemic or all of the ways it has affected your home and work life, but you can control how your lifestyle impacts your chances of becoming infected and your mental health being affected. We can choose healthy behaviors such as eating nutrient dense foods, exercising, getting enough sleep, social distancing, wearing a mask when you can’t avoid going out and focusing on the positives can decrease the risks.
Trying to control the uncontrollable will only create anxiety and stress in your life. We don’t know how long this will last or if life will ever go back to being quite the same. If we don’t acknowledge the feelings that we have and deal with them, it can create unresolved anger that can then lead to depression.
By focusing on the areas in your life that you can control, you can begin a journey to better mental health. What uncontrollable things can you let go of and where can you take control? Unmanaged stress and anxiety can lead to feelings of helplessness, fatigue, apathy, health issues, and depression. Managed stress gives you greater strength, more energy, enthusiasm, confidence, success and joy.
If you would like to talk to a counselor that can help you understand what is happening to you and give you some guidelines on how to cope, please call 479-268-4142. In this time of social distancing Pinnacle Counseling is offering both TeleHealth and in-office services, following all CDC safety guidelines to protect everyone. We are here to help!
