Worry Information
Worry is thoughts, images and emotions of a negative nature in which mental attempts are made to avoid anticipated potential threats.[1] As an emotion it is experienced as anxiety or concern about a real or imagined issue, usually personal issues such as health or finances or broader ones such as environmental pollution and social or technological change. Most people experience short-lived periods of worry in their lives without incident; indeed, a moderate amount of worrying may even have positive effects, if it prompts people to take precautions (e.g., fastening their seat belt or buying fire insurance) or avoid risky behaviours (e.g., angering dangerous animals, or binge drinking).
Excessive worry is the main component of generalized anxiety disorder.
Contents |
Theories
Mental state in terms of challenge level and skill level, according to Csikszentmihalyi.[2] (Click on a fragment of the image to go to the appropriate article)One theory of anxiety by Liebert and Morris in 1967 suggests that anxiety consists of two components; worry and emotionality. Emotionality refers to physiological symptoms such as sweating, increased heartbeat and raised blood pressure.
Dr. Edward Hallowell , psychiatrist and author of Worry, argues that while "Worry serves a productive function", "anticipatory and dangerous" worrying—which he calls "toxic worry"--can be harmful for your mental and physical health. He claims that "Toxic worry is when the worry paralyzes you," whereas "Good worry leads to constructive action" such as taking steps to resolve the issue that is causing concern. To combat worry, Hallowell suggests that people should not worry alone, because people are much more likely to come up with solutions when talking about their concerns with a friend. As well, he urges worriers to find out more information about the issue that is troubling them, or make sure that their information is correct. Another step to reduce worry is to make a plan and take action and take "care of your brain" by sleeping enough, getting exercise, and eating a healthy diet (without a "lot of carbs, junk food, alcohol, drugs, etc). Hallowell encourages worriers to get "regular doses of positive human contact" such as "a hug or a warm pat on the back". Finally, he suggests that worriers let the problem go rather than gathering them around themselves.[3]
In positive psychology, worry is described as a response to a moderate challenge for which the subject has inadequate skills.[2]
Religious views
Christianity
There are several scriptures on worry in the New Testament, including Matthew 6:31 and Luke 12:22.
See also
| Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: worry |
References
- ^ Borkovec TD. (2002). Living in a state of worry can cause anxiety, and depression, as well as ruin the present. "Worry does take the pain out of tomorrow, it causes one to be prepared today." -Anonymous. Life in the future versus life in the present. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice 9, 76–80.
- ^ a b Csikszentmihalyi, M., Finding Flow, 1997.
- ^ 5 steps to control worry
External links
- Chronic worry information from the Canadian Mental Health Association http://www.cmha-rmd.com/worry.html
|
||||||||||||||
Categories:
|
Verb
worry (third-person singular simple present worries, present participle worrying, simple past and past participle worried)- (transitive) To seize or shake by the throat, especially of a dog or wolf.
- Your dog’s been worrying sheep again.
- (transitive) To harass; to irritate or distress.
- The President was worried into military action by persistent advisors.
- (transitive) Disturb the peace of mind of; afflict with mental agitation or distress.
- Your tone of voice worries me.
- (intransitive) To be troubled, to give way to mental anxiety.
- Stop worrying about your test, it’ll be fine.
- (transitive, obsolete, except in Scots) To strangle.
- A strong feeling of anxiety.
- I'm afflicted by worry throughout the night.
- An instance or cause of such a feeling.
- My main worry is that I'll miss the train.