Why are we afraid of the future? 6 recommendations

Many people feel excessive fear of the future. However, Uncertainty is an essential part of our vital condition.

Most everyday situations are loaded with some uncertainty, then Not everything can be under control: Is this the man or woman of my life?, Will I approve the exam?, Will they ascend to me?, What will the results say?, Will we continue together?, Will I be making the best decision?

Given these scenarios, it is common to feel a little fear of the future because, precisely, it is uncertain. However, this is not a problem, but the way in which we manage this fear.

Content

• Fear of future: Anticipatory anxiety
• Symptoms and consequences
• How to combat uncertainty?
  • Bibliography

Fear of future: Anticipatory anxiety

In fear of the future, anticipatory anxiety is hidden. According to researchers Dan W. Grupe and Jack B. Nitschke, in his study on uncertainty and anticipation in anxiety, the human brain is conceived as "an anticipation machine", so "making the future is the most important thing it does".

The brain has the ability to resort to past experiences and information available to the State and the current environment to make predictions, which increases the possibilities of obtaining the results that are desired, while preparing to avoid future adversity.

According to the authors, this is a skill that is directly related to our level of certainty, with respect to future events, that is, how likely they are, when they will occur and how they will be. They also emphasize that uncertainty decreases the efficacy and efficiency with which we can prepare for the future and, therefore, contributes anxiety.

This is because Uncertainty makes it much harder to have adequate preparation for future events, partly because a balance between preparatory actions must be achieved, which are usually efficient, but inappropriate, and those are effective, but unnecessary.

In any case, it is normal for many people to feel fear of the future and see it with concern, since this allows them to make decisions in the present that they consider most appropriate. However, sometimes, these concerns can become excessive and generate discomfort, being able to affect other areas of life.

A person, for being afraid of the future, can paralyze their daily life completely, for the only fear of dealing with certain consequences or for the fear of making a decision of which he does not feel certain of how it will result.

Said fear is associated with a Low tolerance to uncertainty. Today, many people who have little social or economic stability may feel this fear more intensely.

Anticipatory anxiety leads to many to position themselves in catastrophic outcomes with predictions that carry anguish and even panic attacks. But, the problem does not reside in making predictions, but in the emotions that can be accompanied to insecurity for what comes, such as fear, anxiety, sadness, irritability or anger.

Some may feel such a low tolerance to the negative events that they fear making decisions and follow the saying: "better known bad than good to know".

The fear of the future may also be related to wanting to have everything under control, typical of the people who do not improvise, but need to be guided by a plan with a few steps or structure, but, Life is not predictable at all times.

Need to control: what is and what problems can generate?

Well, life is constant changes that lead us to make decisions. In this sense, internal dialogue influences a lot, since many people anticipate asking: and if… ?, What if it is not faithful?, What if the treatment does not work?, What if the marriage fails?, What if they fire me?, among others.

These concerns could work to reduce anxiety, but they can also block and stagnate the person, so, living fullness implies making decisions, accepting those who get right and those who don't, but always moving forward.

Symptoms and consequences

The fear of the future could lead to certain symptoms, such as thoughts that are a catastrophic anticipation of what is to come: What if I stay without employment?, What if the relationship ends?

The person could also experience physiological symptoms, such as sweating, tachycardia, tremor in the hands, hyperventilation, among others. Finally, their behavior is affected, since they can evade decision making, not leave their comfort zone, apathy, review everything many times, and others.

When we avoid taking a job for fear, or assuming a marriage for fear of not working, among other scenarios, The person is likely to end his life feeling dissatisfaction, since, looking back, he will realize that he lived stagnant, for avoiding exposing himself to the situation that was afraid.

This fear or fear of the future could also make the person have problems in their social relations, since, by living in constant concern, others could perceive it as a burden. In the couple's scope, the progress of the relationship is likely to be interrupted. That is, the person self -taught, or ends up making the feared situation happen, better known as self -fulfilling prophecy.

How to combat uncertainty?

To combat uncertainty the following is suggested:

1. Avoid fighting emotions, Identify them, normalize them and not feel fear of them.
2. Ask yourself if you are in the present, In the past or in the future, to identify where anxiety comes from.
3. Avoid spending a lot of time conversations about issues that cause concern. You can establish a time to do it, preventing all conversations from revolving around fears.
4. Practice being flexible, Because spontaneity is present in life, which is movement.
5. Visit the cinema without having chosen a movie in advance.
6. Go out to take a walk, No schedule or planning.

Finally, remember that you can seek psychological help to deal with all the uncertainties that life will always have in the future, and so that they paralize you.

Difficult decisions: Why don't you like the brain?

Bibliography

• Grupe, d. W., & Nitschke, J. B. (2013). Uncertainty and Anticipation in Anxiety: An Integrated Neurobiological and Psychological Perspective. Nature Reviews. Neuroscience, 14(7), 488-501. https: // doi.org/10.1038/NRN3524
• Hur, j., Smith, JF, Deyoung, Ka, Anderson, As, Kuang, J., Kim, HC, Tillman, RM, Kuhn, M., Fox, As and Shackman, AJ (2020). Anxiety and neurobiology of the anticipation of temporarily uncertain threats. The Journal of Neuroscience: the official magazine of the Society for Neuroscience, 40 (41), 7949-7964. https: // doi.org/10.1523/Jneurosci.0704-20.2020