What Worry Can Do to You?

Benefits

Having some degree of worry can help us prepare for important situations, such as studying before a test or practicing before a sporting event. Worry can also help us avoid putting ourselves in situations that could lead to significant harm or death. But worry, when arising from situations that we have no control over or when becoming too intense, can cause physical problems, psychological problems, and interpersonal problems.

Physical Problems

Persistent or excessive worry can contribute to physical health problems. For example, we may experience cardiovascular problems with long-term worry, and we may experience gastrointestinal problems, such as a stomach ache or diarrhea, with intense worry. Worry can lead to ulcers and hair loss. Our feelings do have an impact on our physical health, so controlling our worry can enable us to live healthier lives. Intense worry could contribute to poor eating habits or poor sleeping patterns, affecting our physical health.

Psychological Problems

Excessive worry is associated with a range of mental health disorders. Some people develop phobias, such as arachnophobia (fear of spiders). If we worry too much about embarrassing ourselves in public or how others will judge us, we have Social Anxiety Disorder. If we do not leave our homes because of worry, we may have Agoraphobia. If our worry is about a broad range of situations and makes it difficult for us to concentrate or sleep, we may have Generalized Anxiety Disorder. It is important to know, though, that some worry is normal. When worry is associated with a mental health disorder, the worry generally causes significant impairment in a person’s functioning. Only a licensed mental health professional can diagnose one of the abovementioned disorders.

Interpersonal Problems

Worry can also impact our relationships with others. If we experience frequent anxiety in social situations, we may avoid social interaction. If our worry is frequent or excessive, it may be more difficult to display empathy for others, or it may lead us to be irritable or provoke conflicts. However, social support can actually help us reduce worrying, and many people find relief from worry by sharing their concerns with others.