Strategies for worry
We all worry too much and strategies for worry can be a useful ‘tool’ to help you navigate life a little better. Always remember that thoughts aren’t facts and get into the habit of regularly challenging your thinking – you may be way off the mark and upsetting yourself unnecessarily.
Notice the worrisome thoughts and try to figure out what it is that you are worrying about.
Ask yourself: “Is this worry about a current problem or is it a hypothetical situation? (a ‘what if’ situation that hasn’t happened and may never happen).
Can I do something about this?
If the answer is NO, let the worry go!
Distract yourself, find something else to do.
If the answer is YES, draw up an action plan – what/when/how. Decide whether something can be done right now or later on. If it can be done now – get on and do it! Once you have actioned the worry, learn to ‘mentally shelve’ the issue. Get on with something else until you can again do something about the worry (perhaps after someone else has responded to you, for example).
If something can be done at a later stage, schedule it and then let the worry go. Don’t allow worries to hang around and fester. That’s when we get stuck in a worry spiral and end up thinking about things that often far worse than the reality!
Worry versus problerm solving
There’s a big difference between worry and problem solving. Problem solving allows you to move forward, find solutions and take action. Worry keeps you in a perpetual state of anxiety.
Make sure you deal with worries and look for solutions. Thoughts that just go around and around in your head without any type of active resolution to them will drive you crazy in the end. Learn to manage your thoughts instead of allowing them to manage you.
Mandy X
Author: Mandy Kloppers
Mandy is a qualified therapist who treats depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, trauma, and many other types of mental health issues. She provides online therapy around the world for those needing support and also provides relationship counselling.
