How Much Worrying is Healthy?

Worrying is a part of being human but sometimes it is overwhelming and paralyzes us.

Here are some typical examples of why people worry:

1. We can’t help worrying about our health or the health of a loved one when the doctor has informed us that this is a serious condition.
2. If our finances have been plunging and we have vital things we must pay for, again, worrying is understandable.
3. There are certainly other situations besides what is mentioned here that can cause us unavoidable worry.

But, we can usually minimize the effect such things have on us and on the situation — especially if some time has passed after it initially came into our awareness.

We’re better qualified to deal with the problems and minimize the worry if we:

1. Ask questions and understand the reality of problems we have instead of imagining the worst-possible negative outcomes. Sometimes what we’ve worried about doesn’t come to pass (or at least not to the degree we expected).
2. Find a way to relax a bit (deep breathing, talking to someone who’s really listening, etc.) so we can maximize our rational attitudes about what’s happening.
3. Take care of ourselves so we can address the problem logically (get as much rest as possible, eat as nutritiously as possible, listen to soft music, turn to caring people who help us take charge of ourselves so we can focus).
4. Utilize prayer if that is something that feels right to you or other methods that have helped you in the past.

If worrying is something you do a lot of even when threatening situations aren’t present and it doesn’t feel good (You have panic attacks and/or gastrointestinal distress and/or the worrying keeps you from taking part fully in life, etc.) it might be worthwhile to consider talking to a therapist who can help you to feel better while addressing situations that underlie this excessive worry.