Avoiding emotional meltdown during times of crisis

I am having an emotional meltdown with all of the bad news about the economy, the uncertainty surrounding the bailout, and concern over the post-election scenarios that can occur regardless of the outcome. In short, fear and uncertainty about the future have me tied in knots. Please help me deal with my anxiety.

— A reader in Ohio

DEAR READER: First let me compliment you on your desire to seek help.

As you may have surmised, the factors you mentioned in your e-mail are negatively impacting your need for control. Fear and uncertainty are consequences of a person’s perception of his lack of power to change things and restore predictability in life.

I have found a quote from economist Paul Romer useful in dealing with the current world situation. He said, “A crisis is a terrible thing to waste.”

Ask yourself, what can I learn from this situation? We can’t change the world condition, but we can change our reaction and response to these changes and uncertainty.

Some people not only survive trauma, negative events and seemingly insurmountable obstacles — they also grow and develop from these experiences. They possess what some mental health professionals call psychological resiliency or psychological hardiness.

These resilient/hardy adults feel that their efforts will influence the outcome of the objectives that they are pursuing. Rather than feeling threatened, psychologically resilient/hardy adults are challenged by change and are generally free from chronic worry, fear and feelings of insecurity.

These same individuals are optimistic, flexible and keep their need to control on a short leash. They are committed to the important things in their lives, such as jobs, families and health. A spiritual connectedness is also seen in the majority of these people.

Resilient people are able to reflect on earlier events in their lives where seemingly terrible situations turned into very positive outcomes that were often accompanied by a twist of irony.

Perhaps some of the current chaos in the financial markets needs a perfect storm to clean up the mess and get us back on solid ground. Unfortunately, it may take a financial near-death experience to rid us of the consequences of our greed and gluttony.

Review your priorities frequently. Slow down. Avoid panic by maintaining your focus and goals. Maintain your commitment to your mental and physical health and your relationships, and believe that you can successfully survive this financial crisis.