We all worry. We worry about our finances. We worry about our children. We worry about the weird noise our car started making yesterday.
It's normal to worry from time to time. But how can you tell if you're worrying excessively?
However, an inability to turn off your worrying could have a severe impact on your overall state of mental health. In turn, this can lead to a series of chronic conditions that can further endanger your health.
Here are some steps you can take to get your excessive worrying under control.
Make a worry list. Write down all your worries. Schedule a time every day to read over your list. Set a 15-minute timer to spend on the list. When the timer goes off, carry on with your life. If you start to worry about something after your dedicated worry time, remind yourself it'll have to wait until the next day.
Pick which worries are solvable. Take a look at your worry list to determine which worries you can do something about, and then make plans to resolve them.
Distract yourself in a healthy way. Exercise, for example, releases endorphins that relieve tension and stress. Deep breathing exercises can calm and quiet negative thoughts.
Live in the present. Worry often involves what-ifs about future or past events. Try to stay focused on the present. Pay attention to everything going on around you now.
Talk about your worries. Tell a friend what you're worried about. Giving voice to your worries can help you put them in perspective. And other people may offer solutions that might not have occurred to you.
Embrace pet ownership. 80% of pet owners believe their pets bring them happiness and emotional support. In addition, caring for a pet has been shown to decrease stress, lower blood pressure, and improve upon cardiovascular wellness.
Aim for a better work-life balance. People who achieve a greater balance between their work life and their home life experience fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Feeling overwhelmed? Watson Clinic offers a team of
Psychiatry and
Psychology specialists who are available to help.
Call 863-647-8043 to schedule an appointment with a member of our Psychiatry department at
Watson Clinic South, or 863-668-3465 for our Psychology department at
Watson Clinic Main.