13 July 2023
Marie Vakakis, a mental health social worker, family therapist & podcaster, has a passion in supporting people to improve their mental wellbeing. In her podcast, she discusses with Contain Your Brain's Dr Lillian Nejad the impact of excessive worry on daily life and relationships, and explores strategies for managing worry effectively.
Marie dives into the topic of worry with Dr. Lillian Nejad, a clinical psychologist with extensive experience in helping people manage anxiety and stress.
They explore the definition of worry, its relationship with anxiety, and common misconceptions about it. Lillian sheds light on the purpose and function of worry, highlighting situations where it can be helpful and when it becomes unproductive.
We have anxiety for a reason. It’s to help protect us. And so worry as an extension of that means that we have worries to alert us to potential problems so that we have that foresight to be able to prevent those problems or to solve those problems.
Key Take Aways
- Worry is the cognitive expression of anxiety, characterised by thoughts that often start with “what if” and focus on anticipating negative outcomes.
- Worry can also be centred around past behaviour and regrets, known as rumination, where individuals constantly replay events they wish had gone differently.
- While anxiety is a feeling, worry is a thought process triggered by anxiety.
- Worry serves a purpose by alerting us to potential problems, allowing us to take preventive measures, solve issues, or be better prepared.
- Dysfunctional worry occurs when it fails to lead to problem-solving or resolution, becomes uncontrollable, and significantly impacts daily functioning.
- Excessive worry can affect concentration, sleep patterns, productivity, and overall wellbeing.
- Worry can also impact relationships, as anxious energy can be sensed by others, even if not explicitly expressed.
- Worry is the cognitive aspect of anxiety, involving thoughts focused on potential negative outcomes.
- Understanding the purpose of worry helps differentiate between productive and unproductive worry.
- Dysfunctional worry hinders problem-solving and resolution, and can have a significant impact on daily functioning.
- Excessive worry affects concentration, sleep, productivity, and relationships.
- Recognising what can and can’t be controlled helps shift focus to actionable steps and reduces worry.
- Developing strategies to manage and regulate worry is essential for overall wellbeing.
