Are you a worrier? Do you worry about all the things that might go wrong? Are you constantly anticipating your world falling apart? Maybe you are experiencing anxiety.
Some people are always asking themselves, “What if …?” What if my partner gets ill? What if they have to give up work? What if we don’t have enough money to pay the mortgage or the rent? This is one of the patterns of behaviour that we see in someone suffering from anxiety.
Worry is not the same as anxiety. Worry is enhanced by anxiety. People who have anxiety have different symptoms. One of the most common symptoms is worry.
Anxiety is a natural reaction. If you were to live in a dangerous part of the world, you might well be anxious, because anxiety is the brain’s way of getting you to focus on things that might be dangerous. Anxiety helps you focus on those life-threatening things that might happen in a dangerous world.
The problem happens when the anxiety-inducing part of the brain becomes over-stimulated. It reacts when the situation is not life-threatening, and then it reacts again and again … producing a seemingly endless supply of “what ifs”.
But don’t worry … there are solutions to the problem of ever-constant worry.
The first step is to recognise that these worries are out of proportion with the chances of them happening. This does not stop the worrying per se, but it does help you get a sense of proportion about it all.
The next step is to engage the rational part of your brain. Ask yourself, “Is this likely? Can I do anything about it? Is it the end of the world if it did happen?” If you need to do something about it – then do it, and then move on.
And finally, move on to deliberately focus your mind on something more positive. Notice the positive things in your life and appreciate them. This action directly counteracts the anxiety’s pressure on your brain that gets you to focus on the “what ifs”.
And Finally …
If you want help getting over your worries, then you might like to consider hypnotherapy. I specialise in helping clients with anxiety and/or depression. I work out of my clinic in Fleet, Hampshire as well as online. Contact me if you want a free, no-obligation chat.
Photo by Liza Summer on Pexels