Constant worrying takes a heavy toll. It keeps you up at night
and makes you tense and edgy during the day. You hate feeling like a nervous
wreck. So why is it so difficult to stop worrying?
For most chronic worriers, the anxious thoughts are fueled by
the beliefs—both negative and positive they hold about worrying.
On the negative side, you may believe that your constant
worrying is harmful, that it’s going to drive you crazy or affect your physical
health. Or you may worry that you’re going to lose all control over your
worrying that it will take over and never stop.
On the positive side, you may believe that your worrying helps
you avoid bad things, prevents problems, prepares you for the worst, or leads
to solutions.
Negative beliefs, or worrying about worrying, add to your
anxiety and keep worry going. But positive beliefs about worrying can be just
as damaging. It’s tough to break the worry habit if you believe that your
worrying protects you. In order to stop worry and anxiety for good, you must
give up your belief that worrying serves a positive purpose. Once you realize
that worrying is the problem, not the solution, you can regain control of your
worried mind.
Why you keep worrying
You have mixed feelings
about your worries. On one hand, your worries are bothering you, you can't
sleep, and you can't get these pessimistic thoughts out of your head. But there
is a way that these worries make sense to you.
For example, you think:
- Maybe I'll find a solution.
- I don't want to overlook anything.
- If I keep thinking a little longer, maybe I'll figure it out.
- I don't want to be surprised.
- I want to be responsible.
- You have a hard time giving up on your worries because, in a sense, your worries have been working for you.
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