July 10, 2025. Isn’t it curious how a date can trigger a mind to wander? The days come, and the years go, and before we know it, we are six months and ten days into a quarter of this century. How does that happen? I remember the eve of 2000 when we thought nothing would be normal again.

Fear was the basis of that event: fear of the world being in chaos due to computer glitches caused by systems using two-digit year representations. I remember waking up, holding my breath, glancing at my clock, and opening my computer—all was good, with no world chaos or loss of data. As usual, our worry was for nothing.

Like many people, I can get upset and anxious over current happenings in our country. The difference between 2000 and 2025 is in 2000, we were all in it together. If our computer data were to be compromised, we would all suffer significant losses. Today, whatever changes come down, half of us are celebrating, and the other half are terrified.

Just like a family, company, or a church, if you’re working together—success is possible. If there is dissension and significant differences of opinion, division occurs—couples fight or divorce, the company reorganizes or fails, and the church splits into two distinct religious bodies.

In mental health, when we talk about fear, we are speaking of a complex emotion. Fear can save us from harm, such as stopping a child from running into traffic, or it can lead to debilitating anxiety. It’s one of the four factors of what we call anger (fear, frustration, hurt, or unfairness).

The question is, what can we do about it? Living with constant fear is like an eternal flame burning in our gut or a sledgehammer pounding between our chest and the back of our heads. It is not a good thing. There are several ways we can manage our fear effectively. Here are a few:

Identify your worst fear—then your second, etc.

Answer: What would I do if my worst fear happened?

Answer: Could I survive it?

Answer: Who could I turn to? (Nobody is not truthful—there is always somebody)

Answer: Is there anything I can do (not unhealthy, immoral, or illegal) to keep my worst fear from happening? If so, do it.

Sing and dance.

Throw rocks at a tree.

Go into a field and scream long and loud.

Clean out your garage.

Paint a wall.

Hug yourself and anyone else you trust, long and strong.

The goal is to face the fear, deal with it logically, and DO something to give it less attention.

Fear is real—don’t let it move in.

Until the next time: Live while you live.

Jennifer Goble, Ph.D., LPC, is the author of “My Clients…My Teachers,” and the blogger and writer of Rural Women Stories: www.ruralwomenstories.com.

Powered by WPeMatico