Don’t Let Anxiety Short Circuit Your Decision Making

Do you think people face difficulty in making decision when anxious?

Many of my clients, all of whom are coming to see me for help with anxiety, complain that they have a difficult time making decisions. Anxiety sufferers often have perfectionistic tendencies, and this plays into their decision-making process as well. When faced with multiple alternatives, they want to feel certain that they are choosing the right path. It is normal and often healthy to analyze different options when making a decision, but we each have our own “threshold” for when we have analyzed enough to pull the trigger on making a decision, even if we can’t be certain what the outcome will be.

Is it that taking decisions is hard for every individual or certain people find it more challenging?

For people with high anxiety, this threshold for certainty is too high; they don’t want to finalize the decision until they can be 100% certain that it is the right decision. Of course, if the decision is not an inherently obvious one, reaching 100% certainty that you are making the right decision is not a realistic goal. So the decision-making process becomes endless. We call it “paralysis by analysis.”

What would you advise to aur readers for them to overcome their anxiety while taking decisions?

Faster Decisions

The best therapy for anxiety about decision-making is to simply make faster decisions!

When you have a decision to make, try to keep the analysis about it as brief as you possibly can — so brief that it even feels risky. Then make the decision and take action on it even though you are not sure it is the right decision

When my clients follow through on this and make quicker decisions even though it feels risky, they often express a feeling of profound freedom, like they are off the hook from this hugely burdensome task that wasn’t doing them any good anyway. Even though it’s scary at first, it’s really a relief to spend less time in decision-making mode. Try it for yourself and see the power of making rapid, uncertain decisions!

Put your mind and body in a state of calm

Once you’re getting closer to the point of actually making the decision, I advise doing your best to calm your body down. Taking deep breaths and imagining that you are in your personal “happy place” is also beneficial.

Taking a quick walk out in open is another way of clearing your head. “There are few things in life that really need an answer this exact moment, so taking 10 minutes to step away and come back can really make a difference for our ability to process and make a more informed choice.

If you can find the time, squeezing in a workout can also do wonders for your mental state. “Exercise serves to release brain chemicals that enhance one’s mood and mental mindset, reduces fatigue and increases energy, and improves memory and overall brain functions,” Millen says.

Put things into perspective

“People often catastrophize,” when an anxious person doesn’t get a job they wanted, there can be a tendency to say “I’m never gonna work again, I’m going to end up homeless on the streets.” When thoughts like that start clouding your judgment, Flipping the script by reminding yourself: “Well, that’s not true. I had a job in the past. I’m making this an all-or-nothing kind of deal.”

Write it out

If you’re still feeling unsure after calming your body, write the pros and cons and go back and read it and decide what is driving your thought process—what’s the best move at this point?

Commission the help of a friend or an expert

Talk it out with someone, decisions don’t have to be made alone. If talking to your friends isn’t proving effective, seek out the help of a professional. If anxiety is overwhelming in every aspect of your life or any one specific part, you don’t have to face it alone. There are various modalities of treatment that can be very beneficial.

Finally, ask yourself this question

While there will inevitably still be a bit of anxiety present, once you’ve managed to get yourself to the calmest state possible, there’s one question you need to ask yourself: Does going in this direction feel like growth or does it feel like bondage?