APEX Brain Centers

Neutralizing Fear and Worry in the COVID-19 Landscape

Fear and Worry – the two most damaging emotions

Everywhere we turn these days it is impossible to avoid talk or news about coronavirus. There is hardly an individual alive that is not reminded countless times daily of what has been controlling most of our lives for the past months – FEAR and WORRY!

24/7 news cycles talking about nothing other than COVID-19, lost or altered employment, kids at home, everyone wearing masks at the store (or not wearing them), yearning for human contact or eating out at your favorite restaurant, dwindling bank accounts, and the toll on human life are all constant reminders of how our lives are very different than they used to be.

And, now there is constant talk about what’s next: phased “re-opening”, more limits on human contact, the next wave of sickness and casualties, and further uncertainty about our children’s education and our financial well-being.

What we CAN control

How does one handle it all??? Will it ever go back to “normal”???

I’d be lying if I said I knew. But I DO know the one thing we have control over that is the most important factor in this COVID-19 equation with regard to our health and well-being… How we respond to it!

In his landmark memoir, Man’s Search for Meaning, Austrian psychiatrist Viktor Frankl wrote of his experiences in Nazi concentration camps during WWII. He observed how some were able to overcome adversity and survive in the harshest of circumstances through finding meaning and purpose in their lives; and how others perished having been continuously overcome with fear and worry at the hands of their captors.

According to many experts, fear is involuntary and worry the opposite; voluntary (a choice). And it can be a very damaging choice! Fear can be thrust upon us by captors, a virus, or overdue bills. How we respond to the fear is largely what determines our outcomes, both psychologically AND physically.

What we CAN do

Here are some basic tips to neutralize worry:

  • Write down your worries. They have less power over you on paper than they do in your head.
  • Create a gratitude list. Focus on positives replaces worry over negatives.
  • Turn off the TV. Be informed, but not over-informed.
  • Breathe! Breathe! and Breathe!
  • Realize that most of what you worry about will never come true. This is a fact!
  • Consider brain training. Sometimes a deeper dive is necessary.

Be well, and control your thoughts and responses – it may very well save your life.

Dr. Michael S. Trayford is a Board Certified Chiropractic Neurologist and Neurofeedback Specialist with over 20 years of experience in the practice of advanced functional neurology. He is one of the most highly sought-after brain rehabilitation specialists because of the life-changing outcomes his patients consistently experience. After over a decade in private practice and working alongside other pioneers in the field, Dr. Trayford developed his multimodal intensive brain training and rehabilitation program built around the science of Neuroplasticity – the ability of the brain to learn and grow dependent upon the stimulation it receives from its environment. He later founded APEX Brain Centers to combine his ground-breaking rehabilitation approach with a unique patient and caretaker-centered care model. Under Dr. Trayford’s leadership, APEX Brain Centers has successfully treated thousands of patients and earned the reputation of a world-renowned brain training and rehabilitation practice. Since its inception, Dr. Trayford has been a leader of the Brain Training revolution treating patients worldwide. In addition, he is a published journal contributor and international lecturer. His experience with various patients of all ages and neurological conditions has given him a unique perspective on brain health and human performance. He is also well-versed in collaborating with other health care professionals, making him an invaluable asset to any care team. Dr. Trayford was awarded the Functional Neurologist of the Year distinction by the International Association of Functional Neurology and Rehabilitation, where he is a proud member and conference lecturer. Currently, he serves on the Advisory Council for the Dementia Society of America and the Board of Directors for the International Society for Neuroregulation and Research. He is also a servant leader who has dedicated his adult life to serving multiple communities through Rotary International and other notable causes. When he’s not treating patients, Dr. Trayford usually reads or researches anything related to the brain, human performance, and leadership. He also loves spending time outdoors with his wife Denise, their two daughters, and dogs in the beautiful mountains of western North Carolina. https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmichaeltrayford/

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