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Nation of Wimps or Worrywarts?
Oakland, CA
Monday, September 22, 2008
Book Cover
Are we a nation of wimps – or worrywarts?
High gas prices, failing banks, rising prices on everything, home foreclosures . . . Feeling insecure? Do you feel anxious and worried every time you open the newspaper or turn on the TV?
Are we Americans becoming a nation of worrywarts – stuck in a cycle of escalating worry?
The job of worry is to anticipate danger before it arises and identify possible perils, to come up with ways to lessen the risks, and to rehearse what you plan to do. Worrywarts get stuck in identifying danger as they immerse themselves in the dread associated with the threat, which may be real or, more likely, imagined. They spin out an endless loop of melodrama, blowing everything out of proportion. "What if I have a heart attack?" "What if there is an earthquake?" "What if someone breaks in when I'm asleep?" "What if . . . ?"
While worrywarts insist worrying is helpful, little is solved. Stuck in thinking ruts, they stop living in the here and now--the present moment. Worrywarting is torment--a kind of self-imposed purgatory that makes you feel bad, stresses you out, and wastes precious moments of your life.
Worse yet, worry begets more worry, setting into motion a vicious circle of frightening thoughts and anxious response. It is self-perpetuating, pushing into greater anxiety and more worry. Allowed to continue unchecked, chronic worry can evolve into panic attacks and, in extreme cases, agoraphobia, which is a paralyzing fear of having a panic attack, especially in public. It can be so severe that, in the worst cases, the sufferer can't leave home. Sometimes panic attacks can be so extreme that the worry-victim thinks he or she is having a heat attack and is rushed to the hospital in an ambulance.
Trying to stop worry is usually futile. Instead, we need to become "smart worriers" Smart worriers do the work of worry and then they soothe themselves to get back to balance. Smart worriers designating a time and place to worry in order to contain it. After the worry session they employ one of the below techniques to back to balance.
21 ways to soothe yourself and worry smart
1. Evaluate the cost of the worry
2. Take a deep breath
3. Relax your muscles.
4. Distract yourself.
5. Take a walk.
6. Smile and laugh.
7. Say a little prayer.
8. Find the joy.
9. Avoid caffeine.
10. Shoulds to preferences.
11. Count worry beads.
12. Eat a sweet.
13. Take a warm bath.
14. Imagine a happy ending.
15. Do a good deed.
16. Joke about the worry.
17. Rock yourself.
18. Count your blessings.
19. Make a list.
20. Practice under-reacting.
21. Watch a funny movie.
For more information, go to docpotter.com.
Dr. Beverly Potter is author of
The Worrywart's Companion:
21 Ways to Soothe Yourself and Worry Smart
just released by McGraw Hill, 9/2008.
Isbn: 978-0-07-160213-6
$15.95
Dr. Beverly Potter
P 510-420-3669
F 510-420-3672
E Beverly@docpotter.com
< http://www.docpotter.com/worry.html>
< https://www.mhprofessional.com/product.php?isbn=0071602135&cat=115>
High gas prices, failing banks, rising prices on everything, home foreclosures . . . Feeling insecure? Do you feel anxious and worried every time you open the newspaper or turn on the TV?
Are we Americans becoming a nation of worrywarts – stuck in a cycle of escalating worry?
The job of worry is to anticipate danger before it arises and identify possible perils, to come up with ways to lessen the risks, and to rehearse what you plan to do. Worrywarts get stuck in identifying danger as they immerse themselves in the dread associated with the threat, which may be real or, more likely, imagined. They spin out an endless loop of melodrama, blowing everything out of proportion. "What if I have a heart attack?" "What if there is an earthquake?" "What if someone breaks in when I'm asleep?" "What if . . . ?"
While worrywarts insist worrying is helpful, little is solved. Stuck in thinking ruts, they stop living in the here and now--the present moment. Worrywarting is torment--a kind of self-imposed purgatory that makes you feel bad, stresses you out, and wastes precious moments of your life.
Worse yet, worry begets more worry, setting into motion a vicious circle of frightening thoughts and anxious response. It is self-perpetuating, pushing into greater anxiety and more worry. Allowed to continue unchecked, chronic worry can evolve into panic attacks and, in extreme cases, agoraphobia, which is a paralyzing fear of having a panic attack, especially in public. It can be so severe that, in the worst cases, the sufferer can't leave home. Sometimes panic attacks can be so extreme that the worry-victim thinks he or she is having a heat attack and is rushed to the hospital in an ambulance.
Trying to stop worry is usually futile. Instead, we need to become "smart worriers" Smart worriers do the work of worry and then they soothe themselves to get back to balance. Smart worriers designating a time and place to worry in order to contain it. After the worry session they employ one of the below techniques to back to balance.
21 ways to soothe yourself and worry smart
1. Evaluate the cost of the worry
2. Take a deep breath
3. Relax your muscles.
4. Distract yourself.
5. Take a walk.
6. Smile and laugh.
7. Say a little prayer.
8. Find the joy.
9. Avoid caffeine.
10. Shoulds to preferences.
11. Count worry beads.
12. Eat a sweet.
13. Take a warm bath.
14. Imagine a happy ending.
15. Do a good deed.
16. Joke about the worry.
17. Rock yourself.
18. Count your blessings.
19. Make a list.
20. Practice under-reacting.
21. Watch a funny movie.
For more information, go to docpotter.com.
Dr. Beverly Potter is author of
The Worrywart's Companion:
21 Ways to Soothe Yourself and Worry Smart
just released by McGraw Hill, 9/2008.
Isbn: 978-0-07-160213-6
$15.95
Dr. Beverly Potter
P 510-420-3669
F 510-420-3672
E Beverly@docpotter.com
< http://www.docpotter.com/worry.html>
< https://www.mhprofessional.com/product.php?isbn=0071602135&cat=115>
Dr. Beverly Potter
Author
Overcoming Job Burnout
Oakland, CA
510-420-3669
510-420-3672
First Url: Book info on Docpotter's site
