A CBT Approach to Living with Uncertainty: Control What You Can and Accept What You Can’t

One of the most difficult parts about Covid-19 is uncertainty: about the timeline of the virus, about the impact on the economy, and about the effect it could have on our and our loved ones’ well-being. In my more than forty years of practicing Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), I have learned that uncertainty unlocks a desire for control in many individuals. While we should modify our behaviors to take control of what we can, it is equally important to modify our thoughts around what we cannot control. The following techniques and definitions can be used to help navigate uncertainty.