Worry and Stress

Worry and stress are partners in crime. Worry is one of the prime reasons we stress. Continuously worrying about something can put your mind into certain mode which translates into your body assuming there is danger nearby. From there it transitions into the fight or flight response, resulting in the side effects of stress. Worry can start out small; concern over the difficulty your child may have doing math problems. But sometimes worry can get out of hand, quite often for no apparent reason. It can snowball into other thoughts, such as how well your child is doing in math overall, how he might have problems in the future, what if his feelings about it translate into other areas of schoolwork, what if he starts failing, etc. etc.

Worry translating into stress can mean health issues for you. Headaches, problems sleeping, anxiety disorders, and it affects your blood circulation, nervous system, and can even lead to the lowering of your immune system, meaning you are more vulnerable to illness. Worrying too much and the old saying of “Worry yourself to death” may come true. Constant stress on the mind and body can take a surprising toll, leading to high blood pressure and cardiovascular problems. You will not be able to rid yourself of all worries, but learning to manage them and put them in a reasonable perspective is a good start.

There are many books that provide self-help, or you can look online for stress management techniques, such as finding a hobby that makes you happy and takes your mind off your worries, as well as learning to meditate and look at your worries in terms of the bigger picture in order to see how small they can be. Be careful, as excessive worry and stress may lead to the abuse of alcohol, drugs, and abusive behavior towards those you love. In extreme cases, finding help through therapy could be your best bet.