I've been talking to many people who are able to identify that they are both scared of the vaccine and irrationally creating stories that don't align with reality about it.

I am not a pro or anti vax-er, however, I am a specialist in anxiety.  So here's what I want to share that hopefully is useful.

The scary thing is not Covid.  Nor is it the vaccine.  It's the unknown.

Anxiety, no matter if it's focused on health, driving, social situations, or anything else, wants control.  It wants the security of certainty of being SURE of how things will go.

Unfortunately with 99.99% of our lives that's impossible.  So the reality isn't that things will be more safe, it's that our anxious parts become more brave and are led by the the more developed parts of us.

When it comes to the vaccination or COVID, do an exercise.  

1. Look at the OBJECTIVE STATISTICS that are relevant to what your fear is.
2. Ask yourself, "Is this fear rational, or emotional?"  Meaning is the level of anxiety appropriate to the actual risk relative to the statistics?
3. Turn off the news, social media, and all conversations related to anxiety.
4. Consult with your medical support team - doctors, nurses, etc.
5. Come up with the most objective response BASED ONLY ON THE DATA.

Now you don't have to follow through on that response, that's not what this is about.  But at least now you can have a RATIONAL decision.  Of course this may not have completely disarmed your anxiety.  And so now instead of a health issue, you need to turn into anxiety management.

THAT IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.

Dealing with the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors is totally a different process.  And there's where you should focus.

1. Find a great support team - peers, professionals, and information/resources.
2. Make it a priority to learn about ANXIETY.  Not about COVID or the VACCINE.
3. Practice +Implement, Practice+Implement.

Remember, you don't have a COVID or health issue, there's an anxiety issue here.  And I'll bet you worry like hell about other things besides this.

Give yourself the attention and treatment you deserve, because you're not stuck, and you're definitely not alone.

Lots of love and good mental health,

Jim the Anxiety Coach.