I don’t know about you, but I don’t really do well with uncertainty. It makes me crazy with the endless possibilities of ifs, buts and maybes. It takes my imagination to the next level of flamboyance, and often not in a helpful way.

Considering the last two years or more have been pretty uncertain, I am sure I am not the only one who has not found it altogether fun. Sometimes, uncertainty adds an element of surprise, keeps us hopeful and adds excitement. But on the whole, most of us struggle with it. Particularly memorable has been the recent school holidays. From the borders opening and the increasing cases of COVID to the never-ending rain and gloomy days to the final blow… the extension of the school holidays! Life felt like a bit of a gamble – each outing a risk assessment – figuring out how much chance you were willing to take. Plans are constantly changing, not sure whether or when you could see those dearest to you or if you would be able to go to work.

It got me thinking of the many clients we see who are often worked up into a state about their health before walking through the door at Physique. Will their pain ever go away? Will they be dizzy forever? Do they have a serious condition underlying these symptoms? Often, the overabundance of information on the internet has piqued their imagination, bringing even more confusion. A good way to increase our stress levels and produce anxiety, that’s for sure.

On a brighter note, uncertain times can lead us to look for those things that are a constant, give us answers and discover new things that bring us joy. They can also lead us to become stronger in developing pathways of coping, seeking out and clarifying things that we are unsure of. Teasing out those things that we can be in charge of to reduce our uncertainty is so helpful. Things like our mindset, attitude, what we choose to do with our time and what we think about are all within our immediate control. It may not be easy, but we still have a choice, even if it means re-directing ourselves a million times over. 

Researching, asking questions, and finding people whom you trust is so important, too – in life in general, but particularly in your health journey. If you don’t feel heard in one place, try again in another. I love seeing my patients’ stress levels reduce when I can explain to them what is happening. Even if I may not have all the answers, setting a pathway in motion to seek the knowledge they need is exciting. Supporting our patients through this journey is a big part of what physiotherapists can provide.

So, in this uncertain world, I want to encourage you to seek out all the answers that you can to lessen the uncertainty. If there is a physical issue you are deliberating over, please let our team at Physique be a part of your journey. Even if the answer is a tough one or difficult to hear, we can make it easier to deal with in the long run, putting in place things to help and to heal.