My Well-Being

"I've seen many troubles in my time, only half of which ever came true." – Mark Twain

Worry is uneasy preoccupation about what might happen. It's part of being human. However, some of us turn worry into a life-long core personality trait. If the thing we're worried today about turns out to be OK, then we are more than willing to transfer our worry to another topic – there's always something. During times of collective stress like the current financial crisis, one doesn't have to look hard to find a topic worthy of worry.

Some fears and concerns are appropriate in life – many of us have faced life circumstances where these emotions helped keep us safe from real danger. However, excessive, repetitive worry is generally thought to be unproductive and bothersome. Why do some of us keep alarming ourselves with "what if…" above and beyond what it practical and useful? Are worriers simply victims of the tendency to worry? Or could there be motives to keep worry alive?

If you're in the habit of worrying more than you'd like, ask yourself whether any of these possible motives resonate with you:

• Worrying seems like the responsible thing to do. No one can accuse me of shirking accountability.

• If I keep worrying, I'll be prepared - I won't be surprised or caught off guard if something bad happens.

• Worrying is a way to keep working at the problem, so I won't overlook any good solutions.

• Worry shows that I really care, that I take the issue to heart. It's my way of showing love and support.

• Worrying motivates me into taking action, eventually.

Ask yourself what the consequences would be if you stopped worrying about a particular issue. Your response could provide insight into the role worry plays in your life.

If excessive worry is interfering with your work or private life, talk to a licensed health care professional about it. In upcoming blogs, we will examine a variety of worry-calming techniques.

Wishing you peace of mind,

Dr. Anne

This information is purely educational and does not replace a physician's advice that may be unique to each individual.  For all medical concerns, please see a physician to establish a diagnosis and explore proven treatments. Please note that any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the company or REAL Powered by Humana program.