Why Worrying is NEVER Good For You

We have all worried at some point in our lives, some of us more than others. For some of us, our brains have been conditioned to internalize, analyze, ruminate, and worry. So does this worrying help us in any way? No. Never. Let me explain why.

When something happens in our life, we can essentially divide the circumstances of these events into 2 columns: What we can control, and what we can’t control. When we identify that there is something we CAN control, then we figure out the next steps. Figuring out the next steps is not worrying, this is problem solving.

When we identify the parts that we can’t control, there is a normal human reaction. We might have uncomfortable feelings about the circumstances, and wish things were different. This is normal. At this point, the healthy next step is to process these uncomfortable feelings and hopefully come to some acceptance about the situation, and your lack of control over the outcome.

It is at this point that things start to go south for some of us. Those of us who are conditioned to internalize, ruminate, and worry, start to worry about exactly what we can do nothing about: the outcome. So, in essence, worrying is pointless rumination, stressing, and anxiety that will NEVER change the outcome of the situation, and has ZERO benefit to you.

Here’s what worrying actually does to you:

• Can lead to anxiety and depressive disorders over time

• Causes you to focus on things you can’t control, while neglecting things in life that you can control

• Leads to you not being present in situations that are meaningful to you, such as spending time with family and loved ones

• Worrying leads to being in a heightened state of stress which has negative effects on physical health

• Decline in quality of sleep and diet

These are just a few of the actual consequences of worrying. So how do we stop it? We have to train ourselves to respond differently to situations. If you notice yourself worrying about an outcome that you cannot control, ask yourself, is there anything else I can reasonable do in this situation? If the answer is no, then identify and process your feelings until you’re able to come to an acceptance of the situation. Continue to remind yourself that you have done everything in your power, and that the rest is out of your control.

I hope this post is helpful! Stay healthy and well and reach out anytime!