Simple Tips to Overcome Worry

Worrying is part of everyday life, everyone at some time or another will experience worry.
Worry is our body’s response to a stressful situation or an apprehension of future events that we perceive to be frightening or out of our control. People react differently to stressful situations, so what may trigger worry for one person may not do so for another.

Most people worry about things like, their financial standing, their relationship, health, aging sickness etc.

Although you may believe it normal to feel anxious about any of these issues, the truth is worrying, for whatever reason may actually be counterproductive to your health. You can overcome worry no matter what the situation. Realizing that you have control over what you think about is already a BIG step in controlling your worry.

The problem is, worry offers no constructive benefits to our lives’ it’s certainly doesn’t help in finding a solution for a given situation. The effects of worry can be devastating to one’s health.

What actually begins in the mind, will eventually wreak havoc in your body.

Studies have shown:

• that there is a high correlation between worry and heart disease
• worry and stress weaken your immune system (get colds and flu regularly)
• digestive problems like, ulcers, hyper-acidity and bouts of diarrhea and constipation
• repeated and prolonged periods of worry can take its toll on the mind and eventually lead to depression, it may also release stress hormones that interfere with the release of serotonin, a brain chemical responsible for the feelings of well-being, there will also be problems in concentration
• insomnia due to the focus of negative energy and images constantly plaguing the mind
• prolonged worry releases a stress hormone called cortisol and can often lead to absence of menstruation which affects fertility in women, men may experience the restriction of various arteries leading to impotence
• worry and stress can bring about various skin allergies and disorders and even hair loss, tooth and gum disease

Here are some simple tips to help you overcome worry

It’s important at this point to understand that, your thoughts can be stronger than you, if you can get your thought life under control, you will experience less stress and more happiness, stimulating the release of serotonin in your body and increasing a stronger feeling of well-being.

Be aware of how you are thinking

Negative thinking will always have the upper hand on the amount of stress and worry you are experiencing. Overcome worry by recognizing and identifying negative words, phrases and statements circulating within your mind and begin to replace them with more affirmative thoughts and ideas.

Practice relaxation techniques

Overcome worry by learning to quieten your mind through relaxation and meditation, you start to recognise negative habitual patterns in your thinking. You become more aware of how your thinking is counterproductive to your health. Learn that you have a choice to follow your thoughts or not, this will give you hope that you do not have to be a victim of negative thinking

Understand the reason for your worry

The fact that something triggered your worry requires a little understanding. In order to overcome worry, Ask yourself, why I am worried about this or that, many times we find that our worry has something to do with how we feel about the subject of our worry. Are you going to lose your job? Are you afraid of being rejected? Are you not good enough for the job? What does this worry say about you? Rather than just allowing yourself to become overwhelmed by these worrying thoughts, take time to analyze them in light of how you see yourself.

Stop comparing yourself with others

Much of what we worry about stems from our concern as to what others will think or say about us. You are unique, you have strengths, ideas and education that others do not have. You are different, be you, be authentic and live your own life.

Actions trump worry

All problems can be solved; there is not one thing that you worry about that doesn’t have a solution, nothing is permanent not even problems. However in order to solve the problem you need to take action. Many times we exacerbate the situation by not doing anything about it.

I hope you find these simple tips helpful in helping you take back control that was stolen by worrying. Remember worrying doesn’t add one day to your life, and it most certainly will not solve any of the problems you are worrying about.

“Rule number one is, don’t sweat the small stuff. Rule number two is, it’s all small stuff.” – Robert Eliot

You can overcome worry!