How to deal with the fear of the unknown?

Fear of the unknown never appears out of the blue. It always has its prerequisites and reasons. Experts shared their opinion on why it is dangerous, where it comes from and how to deal with it.

Fear of the unknown, like any other fear, leads to a loss of energy. It's time to face this enemy and stop giving him control over you.

Where does the fear of the unknown come from?

The habit of being in a comfort zone. There are people who value their comfort zone too much and do not want to do anything to improve their lives or continue to develop. A period of mild stagnation or rest is acceptable, but if a person has been in a comfort zone for many years, he may develop a fear of losing control over the situation. A person quickly adapts to something good - especially to stability.

Ordinary doesn't mean good. Our subconscious is tuned in such a way that everything that is constant seems favorable to us, but it is not. Life is dynamic, movement and change.

Hindsight. The inability to plan is one of the most important causes of fear of the unknown. When we do not know what we want and what we need to do in the next hour, day, week and year, this inevitably creates in us the fear that everything will get out of hand, because we do not know what we need to do next. In addition to scheduling, it is also important to always have a plan B in reserve. People who always try to foresee all possible problems are not afraid of disruption of plans and the unknown.

Low self-esteem. Many people say to themselves in a difficult situation: “I can’t handle this.” This happens when the familiar world collapses, and the usual rules of the game change to new ones. This happens during a job change, moving, parting.

Confident people take it easy because they know they have the strength to handle the unknown. Insecure individuals almost always experience change with great difficulty, because they think that they are not strong enough to keep the situation afloat.

What is dangerous about the fear of the unknown?

Anxiety. Uncertainty inevitably causes stressful situations. When a person lives in a comfort zone, and then he suddenly needs to rebuild and start doing something in a new way, he begins to get nervous, worry that something will not go according to the plan. As a result, there are problems with sleep, and then with health.

Stop in development. The main impulses for development occur to us outside the comfort zone, and the fear of changes in life makes a person its hostage. A person who is powerless in the face of such fear cannot develop because he does not try anything new.

Shift in focus and reduced productivity. A person who is afraid of change periodically focuses not on work and affairs, but on his fear. This fills his head with unnecessary thoughts, which significantly reduces the level of productivity.

How to deal with fear of the unknown?

Create the right environment. If all the people around you tell you that everything is bad, and the unknown is a total nightmare, then it will be so. Try to communicate with pessimists, who can only infect you with fears, as little as possible.

Also remove from your environment and ignore those who directly affect your self-esteem, telling you that you cannot do something or you do not have enough strength to make a decision, and so on.

Boost your self-esteem. The best way to do this is to go in for sports, work on your health and appearance.

Don't put off important things for later. For example, you need to prepare a report on work, but you do not take on this task because you are afraid that you will not succeed. Face your fears in the eye and get to work.

Talk to people about your problem. Do not be afraid to open your soul to those who are dear to you. This will help you significantly succeed in business, because you will not be afraid of thoughts of the unknown. Close people will reassure you or offer help, and this is very important.

The very fact that you will be talking to someone is also very important. If you have no one to talk to, you can start keeping a diary. Psychologists say that this is extremely useful for those who are tormented by anxiety.