At any one time almost seven million Americans are suffering from GAD (generalized anxiety disorder).
The main symptom of this disorder is the inability to stop worrying about major as well as minor issues.
The effects of worry on physical health can be truly damaging, including a weakened immune system, cancer, heart disease, loss of concentration, elevated blood-pressure, brain cell damage and weight gain to mention just a few.
Is it possible to stop worrying? I believe it is.
I learned how to stop worrying after reading an article about the limits of the human mind to think about different issues at the same time.
Try and think about two or more issues at the same time.
I don't mean consecutive issues.
I mean thinking about many issues at the same time.
Fact is that the human brain cannot do it because each new issue crowds out other issues.
After discovering this simple fact I decided to focus on thinking about issues that bring me happiness (I call them 'blessings' but you can use any term for whatever brings you happiness).
Thinking about my blessings crowds out issues that worry me.
This simple two-step technique works for me and may work for you.
The first step is to make a list of your blessings..
You can probably list the first few right now.
Here are some examples.
It's a blessing to be able to walk without pain.
Ever sprained your ankle? After a sprain your foot swells and it can take weeks to heal.
Meanwhile you have to put up with using a walker or a walking stick.
And it can happen at any age.
It happened to me twice, once in my twenties when I was jogging, and once in my sixty's when I was getting on a bus.
If you have ever suffered from a sprain you will understand the pleasure of walking free from pain.
It's also a blessing to be able to see.
An acquaintance of mine was waiting in a queue at her local post office when her vision became blurred.
After visiting a specialist she was diagnosed with a build-up of cholesterol in her eyes.
And today she is only able to see with one eye.
It's also a blessing if you are in reasonable health, even if you suffer from a chronic health condition which is under control.
I have diabetes, a chronic disease which I keep under control by injecting myself with insulin four times a day.
But the fact that my diabetes is under control is a blessing for which I am grateful every minute of the day.
Obviously you are also blessed if your children or grandchildren are healthy.
How many children have you heard about and seen on TV or the internet who are suffering from awful diseases? Good health can never be taken for granted.
I could give many more examples but I hope you get the point.
The second step is to reflect on each of your blessing throughout your day.
You will quickly find that thinking about a blessing will crowd out other issues that are worrying to you.
Just say to yourself "I am so blessed because...
my children are healthy, or intelligent, or that I have a job that provides me enough to cover my expenses,...
" and so on.
For example, after my ankle healed I kept thinking how truly blessed I was to be able to walk without pain.
Thinking about the blessing of walking without pain meant that I wasn't able to think about issues that worried me.
I also think about the blessing of sight when I go for a morning walk and look at the flowers and trees.
What a blessing that is.
Worrying about other issues when I am thinking about the blessing of sight is impossible! By continually telling yourself how fortunate (or blessed) you are because of x, y or z, will prevent your mind wandering down the lonely road of worry and despair.
In fact, reflecting on your blessings is the surest way to avoid depression and worry.
And the longer you reflect on your blessings the more natural it will become to be happy.
Eventually you will naturally focus on your blessings and not think about worrying issues.
This technique is simple and it works, Please let me know if it also helps you avoid worry.
The main symptom of this disorder is the inability to stop worrying about major as well as minor issues.
The effects of worry on physical health can be truly damaging, including a weakened immune system, cancer, heart disease, loss of concentration, elevated blood-pressure, brain cell damage and weight gain to mention just a few.
Is it possible to stop worrying? I believe it is.
I learned how to stop worrying after reading an article about the limits of the human mind to think about different issues at the same time.
Try and think about two or more issues at the same time.
I don't mean consecutive issues.
I mean thinking about many issues at the same time.
Fact is that the human brain cannot do it because each new issue crowds out other issues.
After discovering this simple fact I decided to focus on thinking about issues that bring me happiness (I call them 'blessings' but you can use any term for whatever brings you happiness).
Thinking about my blessings crowds out issues that worry me.
This simple two-step technique works for me and may work for you.
The first step is to make a list of your blessings..
You can probably list the first few right now.
Here are some examples.
It's a blessing to be able to walk without pain.
Ever sprained your ankle? After a sprain your foot swells and it can take weeks to heal.
Meanwhile you have to put up with using a walker or a walking stick.
And it can happen at any age.
It happened to me twice, once in my twenties when I was jogging, and once in my sixty's when I was getting on a bus.
If you have ever suffered from a sprain you will understand the pleasure of walking free from pain.
It's also a blessing to be able to see.
An acquaintance of mine was waiting in a queue at her local post office when her vision became blurred.
After visiting a specialist she was diagnosed with a build-up of cholesterol in her eyes.
And today she is only able to see with one eye.
It's also a blessing if you are in reasonable health, even if you suffer from a chronic health condition which is under control.
I have diabetes, a chronic disease which I keep under control by injecting myself with insulin four times a day.
But the fact that my diabetes is under control is a blessing for which I am grateful every minute of the day.
Obviously you are also blessed if your children or grandchildren are healthy.
How many children have you heard about and seen on TV or the internet who are suffering from awful diseases? Good health can never be taken for granted.
I could give many more examples but I hope you get the point.
The second step is to reflect on each of your blessing throughout your day.
You will quickly find that thinking about a blessing will crowd out other issues that are worrying to you.
Just say to yourself "I am so blessed because...
my children are healthy, or intelligent, or that I have a job that provides me enough to cover my expenses,...
" and so on.
For example, after my ankle healed I kept thinking how truly blessed I was to be able to walk without pain.
Thinking about the blessing of walking without pain meant that I wasn't able to think about issues that worried me.
I also think about the blessing of sight when I go for a morning walk and look at the flowers and trees.
What a blessing that is.
Worrying about other issues when I am thinking about the blessing of sight is impossible! By continually telling yourself how fortunate (or blessed) you are because of x, y or z, will prevent your mind wandering down the lonely road of worry and despair.
In fact, reflecting on your blessings is the surest way to avoid depression and worry.
And the longer you reflect on your blessings the more natural it will become to be happy.
Eventually you will naturally focus on your blessings and not think about worrying issues.
This technique is simple and it works, Please let me know if it also helps you avoid worry.