Why Worry?

 Everyone has heard a version of the following statements:

“Don’t worry about it.”

“It’s perfectly normal to be anxious about this kinda thing.”

This seems to imply that there are things that are okay to worry about, and things you should just let go. If that’s so, then who is the arbiter of what’s worth stressing yourself over? In most cases, we thrust that authority upon ourselves. After all, who better to know which danger is most imminent to you?

This “danger”, whatever it may be, is subjective to the individual in distress. A teenager about to ask someone out for the first time might feel as though the world could end if they are unsuccessful. As adults, we now cringe when we think back to those memories, but the anxiety we felt at the prospect of rejection was justified in the moment.

A lot of negative emotions, like anger, feel justified in the moment. You feel justified to be angry when someone cuts you off on the freeway, just like you’d feel justified to worry about money after losing your job.  Much like anger, anxiety can be validated by present circumstances, and both of them linger and grow until they are dealt with.

Let’s say we chalk up the teen’s anxiety to raging hormones and immaturity. Surely now, as an adult, you understand the gravity of real issues, right? Unfortunately, no matter how logical your reasons for worrying may be, it is still just as pointless.

When anxiety becomes persistent, excessive, or disproportionate to the circumstances, it becomes a disorder. The goal of anxiety management is to prevent the development of anxiety disorders and the negative effects anxiety has on the human body and relationships.

 Therefore, it is important to find healthy ways to manage anxiety, such as developing coping strategies, seeking professional help, practicing relaxation techniques, and engaging in self-care activities.

People often confuse anxiety management with quitting worry cold turkey. There’s no permanent off switch for anxiety. Whether you’re as stoic as a cyborg or a bundle of nerves, situations will always arise that will make us anxious. What’s important is to face those anxious thoughts head on, challenge their validity and re-frame our thought patterns and actions, which is where Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) comes in.

CBT helps because it not only affects thoughts and feelings, but actions as well.  Negative thoughts cause people to have negative emotions, which lead to destructive behaviors. When we are anxious, we engage in certain behaviors such as avoidance, procrastination, projection, and distraction. These behaviors cost us closure, time, perspective and productivity respectively.

CBT focuses on identifying unhealthy thought processes and correcting one’s thoughts and beliefs, to stop them from escalating to feelings of anxiety or an unhealthy behavior in response to the felt anxiety.

CBT is considered an evidence-based practice and has been shown to be particularly effective in treating certain types of anxiety disorders. Research supports its effectiveness.

CBT is effective in treating anxiety disorders such as:

ü Generalized anxiety disorder

ü Panic disorder

ü Phobias like Agoraphobia (Fear of places and situations that might cause panic, helplessness or embarrassment.)

ü Social anxiety disorder

CBT is also used to treat other disorders where anxiety is a common symptom, including obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

It goes without saying that this book is by no means a substitute for in-person therapy. However, it is a good start for those seeking to understand their anxiety and revisit the discussions therein at their discretion.

So, fret not. Enjoy your reading.


Coming Soon June 10th, 2023




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