Worry, Why worry, Science behind worry

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I often read posts on this forum in which posters are worrying about something or other. I feel it is something we all do less of and I hope after reading this, you will a lot less than you do and a lot less than you need to because worrying does more harm than good …

Q: What is worry?
A: It’s something along the lines of "Worry is a mental distress or agitation that is the cognitive component of anxiety, involving repetitive, negative thoughts about uncertain future outcomes or potential problems. It is a normal human response to concern over issues like health, finances, or family, but it can become excessive and interfere with daily life. Excessive worry is a key feature of generalized anxiety disorder. "

Q: What happens when you worry?
A: It’s somethink like this "When you worry, your body activates a stress response, causing physical symptoms like increased heart rate, muscle tension, and digestive issues, while also leading to mental effects such as difficulty concentrating, sleep problems, and increased irritability. Chronic or excessive worrying can lead to anxiety disorders and take a toll on your overall emotional and physical health over time. "

Q: What happens when you stap worrying?
A: Well, it’s somethink like this " When you stop worrying, you gain more energy, make clearer decisions, and feel more present and peaceful. Physically, the body’s stress response calms, improving well-being. Mentally, you free up cognitive space to focus on what you can control, leading to greater confidence and a more positive outlook"

Q: What does Science Say?
A: Well, there’s a study that says " 85% of the things that worry you never happen"

Tell me more …
A study from Cornell University found that 85% of the things people worry about never happen. And further, for that 15% of cases where worries “come true”, 79% of people handle them better than they thought and learn something valuable from the experience.
…

So, in total, 97% of concerns are unfounded or manageable.

Source of scientific statement - https://tinyurl.com/3zyxm4z4

So what’s the big deal?
There is no big deal.
Worrying is a human emotion but it can be managed when you realise there are things you can do to mitigate risks that are causing you to worry and in any case how often has anything you have worried about ever happened?

Answer that question and you can decide whether you should worry or not.

You can believe or not, you can trust in God or you can take a scientific approach. Do as you see fit, but why worry when you can be happy?

Up the Stroke Survivors!
Up the Carers!
Namaste|
:pray:

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Thank you! I needed that. Probably we all do.:slightly_smiling_face: :heart_exclamation:

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On a more serious note though, the evolution of worry has its purpose. It can prevent harm from ourselves and our loved ones. It can benefit communities and protect what is important around us such as people, wildlife and plants … but too much of it can make life a misery but having said that, there is a discreet charm to Victor Meldew. I remember something poignant David Renwick wrote on that final episode which translates to something akin to worrying is to care. However, too much can be problematic … so … but don’t be too happy :joy_cat:

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I do not believe it!!

:rofl:

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@ManjiB all makes sense! We all know worry is irrational but sometimes it does take over. A PMA helps but initially once something as big as a stroke happens you need to allow yourself time to get over it and listen to others who have moved on with strength and positivity!

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I think it’s natural for all of us to worry to some degree but it is about keeping those worries in perspective in my opinion. When my team at work come to me to say that they are worrying about things I always say to them try not to worry about the things that you can do absolutely nothing about and then try and put strategies in place to help minimize the others. Of course this is easier said than done and some people are born worriers and will worry over anything and everything whereas other people can just put things to one side.

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My weekly group CBT session today was about this very subject: metacognition and worry.

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Animals in nature (deer) come out of sympathetic ‘fight or flight’ mode quite quickly… we stay in it virtually all day, unless you know about Earthing

R

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I have heard of earthing, it is a popular thing for some to do in Australia, had a few friends who did it but called it grounding, and there is a subculture there that boomed while I was growing up with the unfortunate name of Ferals that practice it as part of their cultural identity.