The importance of tolerance to uncertainty in the Covid-19 crisis

The effectsof the COVID-19 pandemic have become more visible since the beginning of 2020, through a social, economic and health crisis that has brought with it very harmful consequences for most countries in the world.

In addition to generating a real earthquake at a global level, the coronavirus crisis has also had a great impact on the individual level among citizens, who have experienced first-hand how it has completely changed society.

Many certainties have vanished with the COVID-19 crisis; Many of the assumptions on which millions of people built their personal and professional projects have fallen because of the pandemic and the political and economic measures to tackle it. This has generated great uncertainty in many people who have been immersed in a dramatic situation, in which it is necessary to know how to adapt to this context For many, it is now unthinkable to live in the same way as before.

Therefore, in this article we will talk about the main factors of uncertainty in times of COVID-19, emphasizing the importance of tolerance to this lack of knowledge, the absence of comforting responses.

Why uncertainty tolerance is key in the coronavirus crisis

The global COVID-19 crisis has come as a surprise in a matter of a few weeks; It is a pandemic that not even the most powerful states in the world have been able to successfully stop.

It is not surprising, therefore, that at the individual level, many citizens have also had real difficulties in coping with each of the many personal demands and eventualities that this situation has brought.

But not all solutions involve acting as if we had everything perfectly controlled; In many respects, it is necessary to develop psychological skills of uncertainty management.

As mentioned at the beginning, one of the immediate consequences that the coronavirus pandemic has had on the world population is an almost total uncertainty in each of the aspects of people’s lives.

This loss of certainty and confidence in the future has been experienced in most people, both personally and professionally, andhas generated truly remarkable changes in their lives. Below we will talk about each of these areas of uncertainty.

1. Personal Scope

The uncertainty about one’s own health and the fact of not knowing if we have been infected or not, is the most remarkable element during this pandemic, as well as the concern for the health of relatives and loved ones who may have been infected or are part of a risk group.

In addition to that, there are other causes of uncertainty in the personal sphere that have come into our lives along with the pandemic, such as: the fact of not knowing if the rent can be paid at the end of the month, many personal projects that have been truncatedand have not been able to be carried out, the uncertainty about whether they are going to confine the municipality itself, or doubts about whether or not we will see our loved ones.

To deal with these sources of uncertainty it is vital to learn to live with them and even tolerate a certain level of anxiety (without feeding it unconsciously) in order to move forward with our lives and prevent them from affecting our mental health.

This consists, in short, in trying that these frustrations and uncertainties do not affect us excessively, in taking into account at all times that we are in a special period that will end sooner or later, as well as knowing how to relativize and prioritize each of the problems we have, and in being aware that health is the main thing.

Constructive mindset is also one of the greatest allies we have in times of COVID-19; We must be realistic with the situation but also remember that the state of pandemic is temporary and that following safety protocols we will be avoiding a good part of the risks.

2. Professional Field

The crisis in the workplace and professional spheres is also one of the problems most shared by the general population after the passage of the pandemic, since many people have seen first-hand how the certainties they had in their jobs have vanished, leaving frustration and anguish in their wake.

This uncertainty began as a concern for one’s own health and that of those around us, but as the health crisis has become an economic and labor crisis, the concern for an uncertain future has also moved to the field of personal economy and work.

The loss of one’s own job means the loss of a livelihood for ourselves and for the family that we may have in charge, and on a different level, it also means losing one of the essential elements that make up our personality and one of the main reinforcements of our own self-esteem. But even when this loss does not occur, the fear of it happening can wear us down a lot mentally.

Thus, the uncertainty of losing one’s job is one of the most frequent in times of coronavirus, a constant worry that can generate states of serious anxiety and even depression in some cases.

Again, tolerance to this type of uncertainty is the tool with which we can live better throughout this period of health crisis. Self-confidence; focusing only on what we can control and doing our best work; as well as the assurance that by doing things well everything will be fine; are some of the guidelines to get to tolerate uncertainty at work.

What to do?

Of course, not everyone is vulnerable to being affected by a lack of certainty psychologically. However, if you think it is hurting you and you do not know how to manage your emotions, your time and your decision-making processes in the face of adapting to change, a great help you have is the possibility of resorting to psychology professionals.

If you are interested in starting a psychotherapy or coaching process, please contact us. AtUPAD Psychology and Coachingwe are experts in the management of emotions and in the treatment of psychological problems linked to anxiety,depressionand stress, and we attend in person and online by video call.