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What do People Worry About?

By Merely Me, Health Guide Monday, November 22, 2010
Worry has been a constant companion in my life. My range of things to worry about has included the small and inconsequential as in, “What did that person really mean when they said such and such?” to worries of a grand scale such as worry over health and financial problems. Sometimes I ...
My Experience Taking Xanax
11/22/10 7:53pm

Hi, Merely Me.  Your post reminded me of that commercial that's out now (I can't remember the product) about a dog and someone is singing, "Trouble, trouble, trouble, trouble..."  It's probably an insurance commercial!

 

Anyway, there is always something to worry about.  I don't think there are too many people who never worry about finances at one time or another and how could you NOT worry about your children when they're having a hard time.  I do worry sometimes about what will happen if my parents become incapacitated to the point where they can't live on their own and how much energy is going to be required/asked of me, but that is something I need to set boundaries around beforehand.

 

The best way I know, for me, to manage worry is to realize that there are a lot of things we CAN'T control, which require turning them over, as they say, and hoping for the best but being prepared for the worst.  I can't control the behavior of others, even if they're my children or grandchildren.  All I can do is my best, to be there if they need me and to butt out when they don't.  And the wisdom to know the difference! Laughing  Life happens and we have to learn how to roll with it, to see what things ARE under our control and take care of them, otherwise let them go.  Life goes on no matter what we do.  The fabric of our lives is NOT cotton, but the ups and downs of living and being human.  We can be concerned about things that are going on and decide whether or not they require our intervention, but devoting a ton of time to useless, idle worrying doesn't take care of anything - it just paralyzes us.  I think if we find ourselves obsessed with worry about too many things, it might be a good idea to find a therapist!

11/27/10 12:47pm

I have always been a "worrier" instead of a warrior (although I might be a little bit of that too).  Some of the things you said you worry about I do too.  Like "What did that person mean?"  Also I can get stuck in a "What is this world coming to?" mode if I am not careful.  Money; my volunteer position; do people really like me - on and on and on.  But this always seems worse when I am in a manic phase less so when in a depressive state.  I guess it is just the nature of the anxiety beast.

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By Merely Me, Health Guide— Last Modified: 07/26/11, First Published: 11/22/10