Future Tripping

Is anticipatory worry blighting your life? Repeated anxiety about 'what might happen' can seriously get in the way of finding enjoyment in what we could be experiencing right now. Perhaps we have a compulsion to feel prepared for a range of eventualities or dislike the feelings associated with uncertainty and lack of control. How might therapy help?

Now, Then, And Later

As human beings we switch between:

• living in the present

• reflecting on the past

• preparing for the future.

Sometimes we can become stuck in an unhealthy balance as to how much time we spend in each of these three ways of being. If we are too much in the now we may fail to learn from past experiences or to plan ahead. If we spend too much time and emotional energy ruminating (see my post 'Ruminating On Past Mistakes') we may miss the joy of being in the moment or looking forward to new challenges. And if we spend too long worrying about what might happen, we may miss out on finding enjoyment in the present and from happy memories.

The Pros And Cons Of Thinking Ahead

We need to prepare for the future. If we do not plan ahead we wouldn't have e.g. pensions, clean clothes for the morning, the confidence to tackle a difficult conversation. And the rewards for timely preparation can be very great. The problem might come if we become overly preoccupied with what might happen (but hasn't yet) and especially if we are anticipating trouble. In short, we tip into future tripping.

Such preoccupation:

• uses up time

• consumes emotional energy

• stresses the body

• puts a strain on relationships, and

• sucks the joy out of life.

How Might Therapy Help?

Therapy for future tripping provides the space for us to to stand back and consider what worrying about what might happen means to us as an individual. Maybe it gives a sense of being in control of our lives; or perhaps it is an old habit based on outdated assumptions about how to navigate the world.

Whatever the root cause, together with an impartial therapist we can explore ways of dealing with excessive anxiety. This might involve allowing our current beliefs or strategies for managing anticipation of the future to be challenged and experimenting with new ways of being in the moment.

Caroline Clarke, MSc Psychotherapy. UKCP registered psychotherapist. Weekly therapy for future tripping and anxiety in Brighton or online.

For my current availability, please click here. To make an enquiry or book an initial consultation please visit my Contact page.

Photo courtesy of Winston Chen at Unsplash