How to Stop Worrying
Do you worry too much? You might be worried about your health, your relationships, your job, or your future. And to some extent, that’s normal. Worrying is a natural response to stress and uncertainty.
But when it is excessive, worrying can become a debilitating habit that keeps you from living your life to the fullest. If you’re struggling with chronic worrying, here are six ways to stop worrying and get back to living.
1. Accept that some things are out of your control
One of the main reasons people worry is because they want to feel like they can control things. But the truth is, you can’t control everything. There are some things in life that are beyond your control, and stressing over them only makes things worse.
2. Set realistic goals
When you’re constantly worrying about the future, it’s hard to focus on the present. Instead of worrying about the future, try to focus on the present. Ask yourself things like, “What can I do right now to improve my life?”
3. Focus on the things you do have control over.
When you’re constantly worrying about the future, you’re more likely to focus on the things that are going wrong in your life. But isn’t it more productive to focus on things you can control? Instead of worrying about what your boss or a relative said to you, focus on taking care of yourself. Excessive worrying is draining and can wear you down.
4. Don’t dwell on negative thoughts
When you’re constantly worrying, you’re more likely to dwell on negative things. Do you often think about what could go wrong?
But that’s a waste of time. You don’t need to spend your life worrying about things that haven’t happened. You need to focus on what’s happening in your life and make an effort to improve it. If you’re worried that something bad will happen, try to think about what you will do if it does. A therapist can help you master this technique.
5. Find the silver lining
If you are worrying about the future, it’s hard to focus on the present. Instead of worrying about the future, try to bring your attention to the present.
Worrying about the future is also a way to make the present seem worse than it is. Try to focus on the positives. Try to look at the brighter side of things.
Worrying is an emotional response. It’s not rational.
Sometimes you can get so caught up in how something could go wrong that you forget to look at what is going right. It’s easy to get caught up in the negative, and it does take some work to start to change your perspective.
6. Accept that things will get better
Worrying can make you feel like you’re getting nowhere. You may feel like you’ll never find a way to improve your situation.
But most of the time, things get better. One of the most important things you can do is to stop worrying so much, and to start living life to the fullest. You can try things out, make mistakes, and learn from them. If things don’t get better, you’ll find a way to cope.
We Can Help
If you are worrying too much, it probably is a good idea to talk with a professional.
Worrying can make your world smaller and your life less fun. Give us a call or send an email to learn how we can help you overcome excessive worrying (908-857-4422 or info@hhccnj.com).
Schedule an Appointment
To schedule your first appointment, click on the Book Now button. There you will see our availability for the next two months. You can select the day and time that works best for you.
To learn about our therapists: About Us
More about excessive worry and how it can affect the body: How Worrying Affects the Body