I’m sure like you, I continue to see people behaving in ways that clearly indicate that they have unmet needs, but sometimes it’s challenging not to feel discomfort in these situations. I observed a very rude customer in the check-out line at the grocery store this week and as if his behavior about his purchases wasn’t bad enough for the clerk, the man was also not wearing a mask which is mandated here. Being next in line, I tried to be empathetic to the store clerk, but he was so angry, he couldn’t feel it. Then he ethnically slurred the customer who had left and I was left somewhat speechless. He was definitely too angry to hear anything I might say about how ethnicity wasn’t the issue, so I was just relieved that my items were checked, in the bag and ready to go.
We all need to check our mental health considering the times that we’ve been living through and we all need as many tools and techniques to utilize as possible in order to counteract the fear, stress, anxiety and wide range of emotions we’re experiencing. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, is a psychological intervention that uses acceptance and mindfulness strategies, together with commitment and behavior change strategies, to increase psychological flexibility. Psychological flexibility means contacting the present moment consciously, and based on whatever the situation is, changing or persisting in behavior in the service of chosen values.
Dr. Patricia E. Zurita Ona, known as Dr. Z, is a licensed clinical psychologist originally from Bolivia, and runs a boutique therapy practice specialized in getting people unstuck from worries, obsessions, fears, and anxieties. She is a passionate proponent of ACT.
I really appreciated Dr. Z’s passion about ACT and how we can really help ourselves, through self-work or with a therapist or coach’s support. We can’t enjoy true well-being if our mental health is suffering, so if you’re experiencing mental struggles, please consider taking steps to improve your situation. There are so many options now, from coaches to therapists, through in-person programs, online trainings and telehealth visits. We have choices now that never existed before, so let’s be grateful for them and accept them as viable options to improve our overall health and well-being.
You can learn more about Dr. Z and her services on her website, thisisdoctorz.com, and you can find her podcast at playingitsafe.zone. You can watch our entire interview on our YouTube Channel at Work2live.