Overcoming the Fear of Uncertainty

Let’s start with the hardest truth: certainty isn’t coming, but peace still can.

If there’s one thing anxiety and OCD hate, it’s uncertainty. Your brain wants to know for sure that everything will be okay: that your partner loves you, that you locked the door, that you won’t get sick, mess up, or regret a decision.

And guess what? That craving for certainty? Totally human. But here’s another tough truth: certainty is an illusion. Life doesn't come with guarantees, and trying to force them only makes your anxiety louder.

So, how do you deal with the fear of “not knowing”?

You practice living with it.

That means:

• Making decisions without perfect clarity.

• Sitting with the “what if” without chasing answers.

• Letting intrusive thoughts come and go without solving them.

Sounds uncomfortable, right? That’s because it is. But with time, your brain learns that uncertainty isn’t dangerous, it’s just part of being alive.

One of the most powerful mantras I share with clients is:

“I can handle not knowing.”

It’s not about loving uncertainty, it’s about building tolerance for it. And that tolerance becomes freedom. At the OCD Relief Clinic, we believe this tolerance is key to your success in managing symptoms. We spend a lot of time practicing and mastering the skills of tolerance (we don’t just throw you into ERP without some firm foundation of skills first).

So the next time your mind begs for certainty, try this: take a breath, acknowledge the urge, and choose to move forward anyway.

That’s where the healing begins.

If you’re ready to start this work with an OCD specialist, reach out to us in Ogden, Utah to schedule your intake appointment. We’d love to support you through this journey.