The Misconceptions of a Worrywart

nxiety is one of those terms we hear about, and perhaps experience, more and more these days.

Living in an on-the-go, high demand society can certainly create an element of urgency in our daily lives. Most of us have many hats to wear and maintain. We have our career life, family life, social life, self-care life -  staying on top of it all can be overwhelming! It’s not surprising many people take on the additional role of “Worrywart”!

Interestingly, many of these chronic worriers will have reasons for holding onto and justifying their worries. Here a few of the common worrying misconceptions:

1.  “Worrying helps my mind prepare for the day ahead”

• Worrying actually tends to deplete the mind and our resources to deal with upcoming events. If our worrying is preventing us from getting a good, restorative sleep, it’s doing us even more harm! Lack of sleep can worsen anxiety, mood, and suppress our immune system making us more susceptible to colds and flus.

2. “I can’t help but worry – My life is could take a turn for the worst and fall apart any day”

• There is a tendency for chronic worriers to believe life will just “explode”. They might believe life situations will become suddenly uncontrollable and that tragedy is right around the corner.  While unfortunately, tragedy can be unpredictable, becoming overly concerned has been described as a feeling of “looming vulnerability”. Research has actually shown that we tend to have a warning prior to big life shifts or challenges. Not to mention the Law of Attraction - but that's another story ;). 

3. “My worrying has a function and a purpose that helps me”

• While we can have “CUE’s” [Constructive, but Unpleasant Emotions] which can give us a nudge or a cue that we need to change our situation in order to feel better, worrying does not fall into this category and can actually make it harder to manage our life situations. It can also distort our reality, making situations seem more complex and overwhelming then they actually are. More about CUEs coming up in the next segment!

4. “If I don’t worry about what I need to get done, I won’t be motivated to get it done”

• Worrying actually impairs our memory and concentration, which can lead to further avoidance and procrastination. That doesn’t sound like a recipe for getting things done! On the other hand, setting aside time for reflection and contemplation can help to organize ones thoughts and improve motivation.

5. “I wouldn’t be a responsible [parent/manager/employee/friend] if I didn’t worry”

• People often have a subconscious [or conscious] belief that worrying makes them a good person. In reality, worrying is an unpleasant and unproductive activity which takes up mental activity and energy. It interferes with the ability to fulfill that responsible role, by decreasing our ability to be present and make good rational decisions.

Having a good lifestyle with regular sleep, exercise, and social support, plus a good diet with whole foods, lots of fruits and vegetables, & low processed/refined foods can be helpful for managing anxiety and worrying - in addition to understanding some of these mind traps!

However, if you are starting to experience symptoms that are difficult to control and excessive on most days of the week, your Naturopathic Doctor may want to run some tests to see if a hormonal or nutritional cause may be triggering the worries & anxieties. These other symptoms may include: restlessness, fatigue, moodiness, difficulty concentrating, difficulty sleeping, or muscular pain. If these symptoms are interfering with your ability to function in life, please see a health care provider for additional support!

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