Know the difference between the bee and the bear.

In life, we all have different types of stressors that can feel overwhelming. Sometimes these are objectively stressful circumstances that we should be stressed out about - but other times we become our own worst enemy and allow ourselves to get more worked up then we know we should.

An important skill in mental health is what I like to call knowing the difference between the bee and the bear. Let’s say for example, you are outside having a picnic and bee lands on your blanket. Most of us know, leave the bee alone. Do not bother it and it will not bother you. Worst case here is that it stings you and while not fun, it is not the end of the world. Though what we know we do not want to do, is provoke the bee, give it too much attention and ultimately letting it distract us from our good time.

A bear on the other hand is a different story. If you encounter a bear at your picnic, the above rules do not apply. You want to do whatever you can to remove yourself from the situation safely; you should be taking into account how dangerous of a situation you are in and act accordingly. This is a severe situation that requires all if your attention.

In life, when we are experiencing stress, low mood or anxiety - it is easy to get the wires crossed between what is the bear and what is the bee. Being able to prompt yourself with acknowledging what is what can be a powerful way to have a better relationship with your stress and honing the skill of knowing where to put your mental energy.

If stress management or anxiety is something you struggle with - therapy can help! Philadelphia therapist Noam Dinovitz specializes in providing evidence based practices to helps with addressing these concerns. Noam can be reached at 484 424 7722 or Noam@dinovitzcounseling.com