Then Why Worry?

Everyone worries sometimes, it is a normal part of life. You might be anxious over a presentation at work, making an important decision or taking a test. When the anxiety or fear doesn't go away, gets worse over time and/or interferes with daily activities, it might be classified as an anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders can be a debilitating condition and are the most common mental illness, affecting roughly 40 million American adults. Numerous therapies are available to help control anxiety and include psychotherapy, support groups and medication. These work best when used in combination with each other, as well as with stress-management techniques, good nutrition, sleep and exercise. Make sure to talk with your doctor to find the best techniques for you. 

For those of you who just happen to be worriers (like me), there are some things you can practice on your own to help ease your mind. As I mentioned above, stress-management techniques, good nutrition, sleep and exercise are key! Practice mindfulness/yoga/meditation/journaling, focus on eating a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole-grains, lean protein and calcium rich foods, aim to get 7-9 hours of sleep each night and get 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity exercise (or a combo of both) each week. The mind and body are connected so when you take care of yourself, you will feel your best physically and mentally. If you need help with any of this, please contact me! 

"If a problem is fixable, if a situation is such that you can do something about it, then there is no need to worry. If it is not fixable, then there is no help in worrying. There is no benefit in worrying whatsoever." ~Dalai Lama

What this means is if there is a solution or way out of the difficulty, the appropriate action is to spend your energy finding a solution rather than worrying about the problem. If there is no solution, then there is no point in worrying because there is nothing you can do about it anyway. The sooner you accept that, the easier it will be. 

Sometimes this is easier said than done. You might have to practice training your thoughts to get this down. Accept your worry and move on but set aside a time to recognize your anxious thoughts (maybe even write them down in a journal), brainstorm ideas if there is a solution to your worries and then let them float out of your head like a leaf in the wind. Don't let your worries rob you of your energy, time and happiness. If they start to pop up outside of your designated worry time, make it a point to think of something positive instead. Restructure your thinking by being mindful and thinking in a more constructive way. 

Focus on the present, enjoy your loved ones, situations and things as they are now. Control your thoughts, don't let them control you. Don't worry, be happy!

https://www.health.harvard.edu/topics/anxiety
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders/index.shtml