How worry works?

All of us have worried. Worries can be a normal part of life. Worry is when our mind gets stuck on a negative thought or an outcome. Worry does not affect our bodies. It can create obsessive thoughts if we are unable to stop the worries from happening. Often people confuse worry with stress and anxiety.  Worry is in the mind, it is not felt in the body like anxiety and stress. Many people use to worry and anxiety to describe the same emotions, but they are very different. Excessive worry can be a sign of an anxiety disorder. There are ways to deal with worries to help the mind feel better.   People who are prone to worry often think that what they worry about will come true. Research shows that often these worries are not likely to come true.  When we worry we are trying to solve an issue that may or may not be an issue. Maybe people worry about things that will never happen. It is important to check in with what you are worrying about and try to lessen the worry.

There are many healthy ways to deal with worry. Journaling, being mindful of your thoughts, allowing yourself time to worry. For example, for the next 20 minutes, I will allow myself to worry about this issue. I am then going to no longer worry about a situation. When you look at a worry, think to yourself is it in your control. If it is in your control, then create an action plan to fix the problem. If you find yourself you are worrying about things that are out of your control (others people's behaviors, the weather) then tell yourself it is best to let the worry go.  Other techniques include keeping your hands busy, telling yourself over and over to let the worry go, exercise, self-care, or talk to a trusted friend or family member.  Some people try many different techniques but still have a lot of worries. If you have persistent thoughts or intense anxiety it is best to talk to a therapist and your doctor. Here on Better Help, there are trained counselors who can help you learn to identify and lessen your worries.