Did you know that the word worry comes from the Old English wyrgan which meant “to strangle”?
If you’re feeling strangled by worry, read on to find out why we fret and how to loosen that tight knot of worry that’s choking you.
Why do we worry?
Worry is a common experience for people in general, but there are times when it becomes such a big deal that it takes over our lives, eclipsing any experience of joy or contentment.
And there are some people who admit to being constant worrywarts even though they would really like to be more relaxed about life.
So, if worry is so unpleasant, why do we do it?
Researchers have found six “benefits” that people cite for worrying:
1. If I worry about something, I am more likely to actually figure out how to avoid or prevent something bad from happening.
2. Although it may not actually be true, it feels like if I worry about something, the worrying makes it less likely that something bad will happen.
3. Worrying about most of the things I worry about is a way to distract myself from worrying about even more emotional things, things that I don’t want to think about.
4. If I worry about something, when something bad does happen, I’ll be better prepared for it.
5. Worry helps to motivate me to get things done that I need to get done.
6. Worrying is an effective way to problem-solve.
So, does worrying really help?
Do any of the six “benefits” above ring true for you?
Let’s look at each of them to see if they really accomplish what they are meant to.
1. If I worry about something, I am more likely to actually figure out how to avoid or prevent something bad from happening.
– and –
2. Although it may not actually be true, it feels like if I worry about something, the worrying makes it less likely that something bad will happen.
I placed the first two together because they are quite similar – they both hope that worry will prevent something bad from happening.
Note how this is different from benefit #6 which deals with problem-solving. These two are more about the worry itself helping you avoid or prevent something bad.
The tricky part of these particular ideas is that they create a self-reinforcing belief – something researchers call the “superstitious reinforcement paradigm.”
This means that you get negatively reinforced for your worry because the things you worry about usually don’t come to pass. So you conclude that worry = bad things not happening.
The problem with your conclusion is that the bad things probably wouldn’t happen if you didn’t worry.
Author Earl Conant says that only 8% of the things we worry about are legitimate, so it’s likely that you really don’t need to worry about 92% of the time.
We chuckle at baseball players who wear the same pair of lucky socks or eat the same meal before every game out of superstition.
But what about you? Are you continuing to worry because of a magical belief that you are preventing something bad from happening?
Maybe you should try lucky socks instead . . .
3. Worrying about most of the things I worry about is a way to distract myself from worrying about even more emotional things, things that I don’t want to think about.
Usually, when presented with something that makes us anxious, our heart rate increases. Worriers, though, when presented with a picture of something they worry about, have no change in cardiovascular response.
So, if you’re a worrier, you may feel reinforced by thinking your worrying must have “prepared” you to not respond physically to something anxiety-inducing.
However, what this really indicates is that you aren’t allowing the whole emotional picture to emerge around whatever it is you’re worried about.
You’re suppressing your fear.
Researchers found that people who worry and avoid their deeper fears are not able to learn from their fears as well as non-worriers.
For example, people who were afraid of public speaking were shown pictures of public speaking events. Non-worriers showed an elevated heart rate when shown the pictures while worriers did not (although they still worried about public speaking.)
However, when compelled to do several public speeches in a row, non-worriers learned that public speaking really wasn’t so scary while worriers still had the same level of anxiety as when they started.
So constantly worrying about something, although it might feel as though you’re controlling something you’re afraid of, really only prevents you from adding “corrective information” to your experience – that is, it doesn’t allow you to learn new information to overcome your fear.
4. If I worry about something, when something bad does happen, I’ll be better prepared for it.
Um, not so much.
As explained above, worry doesn’t allow you to learn how to overcome your fear, a key to being able to bounce back in life.
So, if the thing that you’re worrying about actually happens, you’ll still be anxious and not able to respond as well as possible.
Also, let’s think about this: What kind of life are you experiencing if you are constantly in a state of worry about things that happened in the past (which you have no control over) and things that might (but probably won’t) happen in the future?
What happened to the life that you are living right now? This present moment?
It’s gone in a cloud of worry.
5. Worry helps to motivate me to get things done that I need to get done.
Yes, it does.
Because you want to get rid of the terrible feeling of worry, you finally knuckle down and get the job done.
But why choose to be miserable to accomplish things rather than use any of the numerous positive motivators available to you?
Why not set up a reward system for yourself? When you get a task done, let yourself have that piece of chocolate or the walk with the dog or an hour of reading.
Go for positive reinforcement (receiving something good) rather than negative reinforcement (having something bad stop.)
6. Worrying is an effective way to problem-solve.
Again, not so much.
Here’s what worrying does: It brings up a lot of “what if . . .” questions. This is a good start to problem-solving but then, well, as Borkovec, et. al (1999) put it:
“Beyond this, worry itself does not contribute further to solving problems. One is either worrying, or one is problem solving. These two distinctive processes may alternate sequentially during a worrisome episode but never occur, by definition, at the same time.”
So worrying gets in the way of problem-solving because 1.) You can’t worry and problem-solve at the same time and, 2.) Worrying causes anxiety which interferes with your ability to concentrate and think rationally in order to problem-solve effectively.
How to stop worrying
There will always be times we’ll have a little bit of worry. We’re only human, after all.
But if you want to stop the chronic worrying that is making life miserable for you, try one – or all – of these research-based ideas.
1. Keep a Worry Outcome Diary
How realistic is your worry?
That’s really the bottom-line question that you need to answer.
This tool assists you in keeping track of what you worry about so that you can see if your worries are realistic or not.
Specifically, it looks like this:
1.) My worry:
2.) What outcome (end result) do I fear:
3.) How bad this outcome would be on a scale of 0-10 (0 = not bad at all, 10 = the worst thing that could happen):
4.) What really happened:
5.) How bad was the real outcome (same 0-10 scale as above):
Find a notebook and jot down these entries or copy and paste the above several times onto several pages on your word processor.
Then, throughout the day, 1.) note each thing that you are worried about.
2.) Write down what you think will happen that is so bad or scary about each worry.
3.) Rate on a scale from 0-10 how bad this feared outcome would be.
At the end of each day, review your diary for current and past entries and see if any of the outcomes have occurred for the things you were worried about.
Write down 4.) what really happened to the thing you worried about.
Then 5.) rate the real outcome on the same scale of 0-10 from step 3.).
Now compare numbers 3.) and 5.). Was the outcome as bad as you feared?
Most likely not.
Even if you do this Worry Outcome Diary for a week or two, you will soon find out that you can stop worrying about most of the things on your worry list because they’re not true!
Or at least the outcome – the very thing that you spent so much time and energy worrying about – wasn’t anywhere near as bad as you thought it would be.
2. Set aside a specific time to worry
One of the things that can happen if you are a constant worrier is that, because you worry throughout the day, you start to associate normal things in your life with worry.
If you’re worrying when you stop at Starbucks for your morning coffee, after awhile going into Starbucks might trigger worry.
If you’re worrying when you are cooking dinner, you might start to associate cooking with worrying.
Setting aside a 20-30 minute time for worrying during your day will do a couple of things for you.
• It will help break the associations between worrying and your normal daily routine.
• It stops the energy drain that occurs when you are worrying constantly throughout your day.
When you feel yourself start to worry, let it go and remember that you can worry all you want in your specified time period.
Alternatively, practice worrying on one day and choose not to worry the next. Then note whether there was any difference between the days in terms of outcomes or how you are feeling.
Did the worrying make your life better on that day?
3. Practice relaxation exercises and letting go
As you know, your body tenses up when you worry.
Conversely, if your muscles are completely relaxed, it’s very hard to think worrisome thoughts.
There are many relaxation videos and audio recordings online. Find one that works for you and take time to learn to relax.
As you are relaxing, if a worry starts creeping into your mind, practice letting it go. At least for the time that you are relaxing. It will be there again if you really need it!
4. Be mindful
Worrying, of course, is usually about things that have occurred in the past or what we fear will happen in the future.
You can’t worry about what is happening right now, in this moment.
And this moment is where life is happening for you.
Mindfulness is about being in the present moment and noticing your experience without judgment.
When you find yourself starting to worry, bring yourself back to the current moment and just notice how you are feeling and what you are thinking.
Have no judgment about either your emotions or your thoughts. Just notice them and be kind to yourself rather than beating yourself up for worrying again.
If you find it hard to stay in the moment, try using some grounding techniques that use your senses.
Notice how the countertop or desk feels under your fingers. Smell the aroma of coffee or the fresh air outside. Become aware of the different sounds around you.
5. Feel the fear and do it anyway
Remember that your worrying may be a way to feel in control of something that is frightening for you, something a bit deeper than the worry itself.
Keep asking yourself “What’s the worst thing that can happen?” until you discover what is so fearful to you.
Then, perhaps with the help of a trusted friend or a therapist, face your fear.
It’s the only way to overcome it.
Try out the scary thing – whether it’s public speaking, having a hard conversation with your partner, or looking at a snake at a zoo – and notice what happens.
Did the worst thing happen? Did you die from it?
No.
6. How many therapists does it take to change a light bulb?
You know the answer.
“Only one, but the light bulb has to really want to change.”
No one is going to stop worrying for you. You might just have to take yourself by the scruff of the neck, give a little shake, and say, “It’s time – let’s do this!”
Do you really want to change?
You have the tools now so the rest is up to you.
Don’t let worry strangle you.
Use one or more of the above strategies – or mix and match! – and discover how to stop worrying.
For good.
How do you deal with your worries?
References:
Borkovec, T.D., Hazlett-Stevens, H., & Diaz, M.L. (1999). The Role of Positive Beliefs about Worry in Generalized Anxiety Disorder ad its Treatment. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 6, 126-138.
Gladstone, G. & Parker, G. (2003). What’s the use of worrying? Its function and its dysfunction. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 37, 347-354.
Nightingale, Earl. The Essence of Success. Retrieved from http://www.nightingale.com/AE_Article~i~210~article~TheFogofWorryOnly8WorthIt.aspx, September 29, 2012.
Doug Toft says
Bobbi:
Thanks for a near encyclopedic post with so many cognitive and behavioral strategies—a good summary of stress management.
Bobbi says
Thanks, Doug. I’m taking “near-encyclopedic” as a compliment!
Tina Gilbertson says
Great post, Bobbi! Chock-full of sound, practical advice.
Bobbi says
Thanks, Tina!
Annis Cassells says
Excellent information and techniques for easing up on the worrying. Thanks, Bobbi. xoA
Bobbi says
Glad you liked it, Annis!
Jane Robinson - Art Epicurean says
Wow – a very through article. I did enjoy it since I can tend to worry…but it gets better with age. I suppose because we humans learn what it important and what to let go of. Great job.
Bobbi says
I think you’re right, Jane. Experience helps us learn what we really need to worry about versus the 92% that we don’t!
Priska says
I was definately guilty of #3 Worrying about something helped me feel in control, on top of things, but underneath this was a good distraction keeping me too busy to look at the deeper issues.
Learning to be mindful of when I was doing this was the first step in helping to face the fear and do it anyway.
Bobbi says
Yes, I understand that, Priska. Control is such an important aspect to help us feel safe that it’s easy to let it lapse over into worry. Sounds like you’re getting it “under control”, though! 😉
Marilyn Price-Mitchell says
This was a great article, Bobbi. I have a few family members who are big worriers! I’m going to forward them your article. There are so many helpful and practical suggestions.
Bobbi says
Thanks so much, Marilyn! I hope it’s helpful to your family members!
Lori Lynn Smith says
🙂 Very insightful!
luckily for me I have never really been a worrier, but I have watched the people around me. It can really get a hold of your life if you let it.
I totally 100% believe in “5. Feel the fear and do it anyway” Lots of things are scary, it doesn’t mean it needs to stop us.
Bobbi says
I think the fear issue is a little harder for worriers, Lori. But you’re right, we all need to figure out how to face fear and manage to make it not so scary.
Amit Amin says
The only times I worry excessively about something anymore… I know the worry is excessive.
Until my introduction to positive psychology, I had the following binary thought structure:
Worrying is natural (e.g. the idea that I could be worrying excessively never crossed my mind).
Worrying is uncool, so pretend not to worry.
I still think excessive worry is uncool, but know I now, like you said, worry isn’t always ‘natural’. I think at some point I started keeping a mental worry journal, after which I realized that my worries really were stupid sometimes – not emotional information I needed to value or try to suppress, but emotional reactions I needed to re-train, calm down, etc…
Bobbi says
Amit, I didn’t know you were so into being cool! 😉
Just kidding. Sounds like you are definitely not a worry wart and have this worry gig fairly well worked out for you.
Joel Zaslofsky says
Holy resource post Batman! Paging Bobbi to convert this into some kind of stand-alone resource that doesn’t get lost in The Bounce Blog archives. People should be getting hit over the head with this again and again Bobbi.
Bobbi says
Joel, you are so funny! I appreciate the enthusiastic endorsement, though, and I will definitely convert this into something that people can access at any time rather than have to dig through the archives or otherwise not know it’s there. Thanks for your vote of confidence!
Kim Thirion says
I often find myself telling my fiance many of these points. He’s such a worrier and I’m always stopping him and saying “Is this worry doing anything? Is it preventing the thing from happening?” He always stops and says “No, but…”
And tries to come up with some excuse that tries to make it worth it, but he never can come up with a good one. Because it doesn’t exist!
Bobbi says
I know, Kim. It’s really hard to break the habit – the superstition – that comes along with chronic worry!
Ciara Conlon says
I agree with Joel, this post is something special, make it into a little booklet an extra benefit for subscribing to the bounce blog. I try to remind myself when I worry it’s about something that may never happen so I generally feel stupid wasting valuable energy on worrying and stop doing it. But then there is the subconscious worry about finances that isn’t in the forefront of your mind but niggles away deep down. For this I think your worry book would come in very handy to get the feelings to the surface and start to deal with them.
Bobbi Emel says
Thanks for the feedback, Ciara. I am definitely going to make an ebook or some kind of resource out of this post.
I know about those niggling worries – I think those are pretty natural for most of us – so I have to bring them out into the light of day and use some of these techniques to let them go.
Sarah | Holistic Hot Sauce says
As a lifelong worrier, I’ve learned to remind myself: ‘what’s the point of worrying about it now? If the bad thing happens I’ll have plenty of time to worry about it then.’
Of course that only works when I consciously catch myself in the act of worrying!
This is definitely an awesome resource and I agree it deserves to see more light of day than just a blog post! Really interesting to learn that worrying actually can make our fears more overpowering and harder to deal with! The six tips are so concrete and helpful, and just love the light bulb joke! (Hadn’t heard that version…:-) )
Bobbi Emel says
Sarah, that’s funny you hadn’t heard that joke!
I’m glad that you’re also giving feedback about developing this into something more useful and accessible for future readers. I will definitely expand it and make it an ebook or guide or something.
Kaylee says
This is really spectacular, Bobbi. I can already think of a few people I know who need this..I love how you literally picked apart every “good” reason to worry. There are none!
I don’t have too much of an issue with worrying anymore, and I’m glad for it. It’s a nuisance!
Bobbi says
Kaylee, it seems like some of us are worriers and others are not. I wonder if there is some kind of “worry gene”? I’m glad you don’t have that particular nuisance in your life!
Sarah says
Thanks for this, Bobbi. This was my first time on your blog and I enjoyed the perspective on worry. For me, I’ve always been taught that your thoughts inform your life…so guard them. With that in mind, I try to let myself briefly experience the feelings of anxiety that sometimes strike, but I strive to dismiss them almost immediately and focus on thoughts that will build a better life. Looking forward to more!
Bobbi says
Hi Sarah,
Welcome to Bounce!
Feelings of anxiety and worried thoughts are certainly clues that something is awry in our lives. I think you have a good practice of paying attention to them, but then letting them go and working toward a positive outcome.
Thanks so much for your insight!
farouk says
i found that going for a walk with my ipod helps me feel much better, thanks for your tips, worrying is certainly a horrible habit
William Veasley says
Bobbi: Thanks for the article! Worries suck and can be such a burden at times. It has hindered my speech and I am trying to let go of stupid worrying. Letting go is key in my therapy. I like what you said about the therapist and light bulb! ( :
I have to want change for myself because I am the only one that can make it happen.
Bobbi says
Glad it was helpful for you, William!
Brendan Baker says
Great post, Bobbi!
Worry can definitely be a good thing… I like to think that the more I worry the better the outcome!!
Brendan
Bobbi says
Yes, it can be good to a point, Brendan. But, for some people, it can be really debilitating!
Andrea Moss says
Excellent post! I can definitely put this advice to good use.
Bobbi says
Glad you found it helpful, Andrea!
Himanshu Malik says
Great Post Bobbi…was really helpful to understand and bring to forefront what I really knew about worrying deep inside but wanted someone to tell them to me once!!!
Bobbi says
I’m glad it was helpful for you, Himanshu!
Coach Comeback says
Dang Bobbi. I love posts like these that really make you think. Most would have just said something like “Worry bad. Positive thinker, Good” the end.
But you actually broke it down. Crushing some old conventional thoughts and shedding light onto others. Great job!
Bobbi says
Thanks, James!
Ralph says
Great post!! AJ Jacobs had the best answer for worry I’ve heard in a while. At least it was the most creative one I’ve heard. When he outsourced his life, he had is personal assistant worry an hour a day for him. Strangely enough, it worked. He worried less about is upcoming responsibilities.
I’m not a worrier because I have not found a good use for it. The sooner we realize that worrying doesn’t produce anything good, the sooner we can stop doing it. Thanks for the reminder!
Bobbi says
That’s funny, Ralph – outsourcing your worry! Great idea!
I’m not much of a worrier, either, but sometimes I go too far the opposite way and should probably
worrypay attention a little bit more to make sure I achieve things in the best way possible.Patti says
A worry diary? That is a new thought and sounds like it could really lead to some insights and help one to get past worrying altogether.
I’ve tried the exercise of setting aside a worry time, and strange as it sounds, it works quite well. (Reminds me of Scarlett O’Hara … “I’ll worry about that tomorrow.”) Lots of good information here, Bobbi.