Are you feeling anxious about world events?

If so, you're not alone. We live in extremely challenging times and the proliferation of news, available 24/7, can make it hard to escape.

It's perfectly understandable to feel anxious in the face of all this. In fact, our bodies are designed to react in this way to situations that feel overwhelming or out of our control. It's nature's way of letting us know that something doesn't feel right.

Acknowledging that anxiety is a reasonable and proportionate response can help you to feel more attuned, and can also free you to focus on what you can do. Here are some suggestions for ways you can work with, rather than against, the anxiety:

• Take time to think about what you need in the moment.

  For example, if you feel like crying, let the tears come. They will pass and, afterwards, you're likely to feel a little better.

  Are there people you would like to be with and, if so, can you arrange to be with them?

  Are there places that bring you comfort and, if so, can you get to them?

  Is there anyone you can call, in the moment, who can listen to how you're feeling without trying to 'fix' you?

• If you're feeling powerless, acknowledge it's true that there are things we are powerless to change. Then, afterwards, move your focus to the things you can do.

  For example, could you join a group, locally or online, to try and influence events? Could you talk to your local MP about things that might come under their remit? Could you volunteer for a charity that is actively tackling the issues that are troubling you?

  Change happens incrementally and every little step you take can make a difference. Think about your strengths and how you might best use them.

  Focusing on what you can do reconnects you with your sense of agency.

• Take a broader view of your life and how you're living it.

  This is about putting yourself back in control by checking in with yourself about your choices.

  One way of doing this is to imagine yourself in the future and ask your future self if you have any regrets. Taking the time to do this gives you the opportunity to consider whether the choices you are making, now, are aligned with what you want from life. If they aren't, you can do something about it now, before it's too late.

  Whether it's a simple "I love you" to someone you have never told, or finding ways to spend more time with certain people, or ticking an item off your bucket list, this will never be time wasted.

  Making aware choices by keeping the bigger picture in mind, helps you regain a sense of control over your life.

  
  

• Remind yourself of all the things in your life that are good.

  It can be easy to forget these things when you're feeling anxious, so set aside some time to list all the things you're grateful for. This will get you back in touch with the feelings associated with those things and, in doing this, the anxiety takes a back seat for a while.

  
  

In short, I am advocating a combination of acceptance (not in the sense of giving up, but in the sense of knowing limitations) and reclaiming your agency. You are not denying any part of yourself, rather, you are acknowledging that all these responses and feelings can, and do, co-exist.

To cement this for yourself you might say "Yes, there are things happening in the world that are causing me to feel anxious AND there is also much in my life that I can control and that I appreciate and enjoy".