The Psychology of Uncertainty: Why We Struggle and How We Cope

The Psychology of Uncertainty: Why We Struggle and How We Cope

Uncertainty is an unavoidable part of life. We can’t control everything that happens around or to us. But uncertainty can trigger discomfort, worry, and stress because our brains are wired to crave predictability. From an evolutionary perspective, our brains are designed to seek patterns and predict outcomes. The brain sees uncertainty as a potential threat, triggering the amygdala, the part of the brain responsible for flight-or-fight response, leading to feeling anxious and catastrophizing about worst-case scenarios. Having control over our environment created safety and ensured our survival.  Continue reading →

Posted by Becky McGinnis, MS, LPCC in Anxiety
The Role of Therapy in Navigating Life Transitions

The Role of Therapy in Navigating Life Transitions

Life is full of transitions. Some we plan for and others we don’t and are more of a surprise. These can include career transitions, relationship changes, parenthood, moving, aging and retirement, health challenges, and more. Everybody is going to have to face life transitions in their life at some point. Some are easy to navigate and adjust to, while others are more difficult and require internal resources that need stabilizing at times. Therapy can offer support, clarity, and tools to help you tap into those internal resources and navigate changes.

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Posted by Becky McGinnis, MS, LPCC in Life Transitions
Anxiety vs. Intuition: How to Tell the Difference

Anxiety vs. Intuition: How to Tell the Difference

It can be hard to tell the difference between intuition and anxiety, especially when there is something difficult in life happening. When we are dealing with something difficult or unexpected, both anxiety and intuition are activated. Anxiety is loud and strong, and intuition is much more quiet. Although anxiety isn’t bad in and of itself, it is loud and strong. We often look at the biggest fire and can get lost in that. But what else is there beyond the anxiety? Beneath the smoke and fire of anxiety, intuition is quietly waiting to be utilized. It is important to spend more time with yourself so you can separate the two and tap into your intuition.

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Posted by Becky McGinnis, MS, LPCC in Anxiety