How to Lessen Your Worries

I used to worry a lot more than I do now. In fact, I would literally worry myself sick about things that usually never ended up happening anyway. Do you ever worry and worry about things that never end up happening?

I've learned to change my thought process now when I feel myself starting to fall into the trap of excessive worrying. I think that the reason most of us worriers worry so much is because we overthink and overanalyze too much. Overthinking can create more anxiety and more worry.

Writing is a good way to help calm down some of your worries. Write down what your worries are and why you are worried about them. Here is an example of what someone could write who is afraid of bridges and is worried about going over a bridge today.

My worry is about going over the bridge today.

The reasons for my worry are:
1. The bridge might collapse
2. I might drive off of the bridge
3. I may have a panic attack and lose control of my car on the bridge

This person who is afraid of going over the bridge can then write and ask themselves questions and give themselves some reassurance beside each reason that they listed.

1. The bridge might collapse - How many times have bridges been known to collapse?
2. I might drive off of the bridge - Thousands of people drive over bridges each day. I have not heard of anyone ever driving over the bridge.
3. I may have a panic attack and lose control of my car on the bridge - If I calm down my negative thoughts and start thinking more positively, I will have a clearer mind that is more focused on my driving rather than having a panic attack.

If you use reassurance, which is actual reality, it may help you to realize that the things you worry about, most likely are not going to happen. If this person did know someone that drove off of a bridge, I can understand why they would be worried, and that would be could be something traumatic to them. In that case, they would need to seek counseling to help overcome their fears. I've also heard of hypnosis helping some people who worry a lot because of traumatic events that have happened in their lives or in someone else's life.

When you worry, you waste time being distracted with negative thinking. If you can stop your negative thought process and focus on more positive things, if and when a bad situation occurs, you will be able to handle the situation better because you will have a more positive mindframe. The more you worry, the more you overthink and overanalyze, the more you waste time on negative energy. Let that negative energy go.

Worrying about things constantly can affect you both mentally and physically. Like I said, I noticed that when I was going through a time where I was constantly worrying, I felt more fatigued, less motivated and had been sick more often than usual. Most of the time, none of the things I worried about ever happened. Therefore, I spent all that time wasted on negative thinking, when I could have been doing something I enjoyed or at least been doing something more productive with my time.

Try to find something positive to do to get your mind off of your worries. Talk to someone about your fears. Write them down in a journal and figure out ways to reason with yourself so that you don't have to live a life of worry. Worry is wasted time. If something bad is going to happen, and it does, then deal with the situation when it happens. Worrying about something isn't going to stop it from happening. If you worry less and try to have a more positive mindframe, you will be able to handle difficult situations better if they ever do occur.