Getting worry under control

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Recently I have noticed my anxiety levels have begun to creep up in anticipation of an upcoming hospital appointment, and once that happens, it opens the floodgates to worry. I start worrying and getting anxious about every little thing, things I have no control over. So, it is with a sense of relief that I read some advice from author Allia Zobel Nolan on how to calm these worrisome anxious thoughts when they arise.

“Worrying is a choice” says Allia, “and you can choose not to do it. Once you catch yourself, you can say, “Okay, I know all I’m doing is going around in circles. So I’m getting off this bus. I’m not going to do this to myself.” Then, get completely absorbed with something that requires your complete mental attention”.

I particularly like her advice of writing down your worries in a journal on a weekly basis. “Try to keep tabs of how much time you spend being anxious, too. Open the journal each week to see how many of the things you worried about actually happened or came true. Referring to this journal often will show you how much time you waste by worrying. It will also serve as a reminder that most of the things you worry about don’t actually happen.”

Squash unnecessary worrying with one question: “Can I do anything about this matter right now, right this minute?” If the answer is “no,” stay in the present moment, jot down the thought, and then let it go.

So how about you, have you any tips for dealing with the worry monster when it attacks? If so, please share it with us here.