"Worry is a state in which we dwell on something so much it causes apprehension. It differs from the far stronger emotion we call fear, which causes physical changes such as rapid pulse and fast breathing in our bodies. Worry is the thinking part of anxiety"
-Clinical Psychologist Thomas Pruzinsky,
University of Virginia
31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
-Jesus of Nazareth (Matthew 6:31-34)
Worry, fear, anxiety. These three seem to go very much hand in hand. There are subtle differences in definition, but overall they seem to have similar effects on the body, however to varying degrees, and in different amounts of time. What is also notable is how similar these health effects are to stress. What I couldn't help but consider that if someone spends a lot of time worrying, particular in the sense of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), which is a sort of free floating anxiety, that would cause no small amount of distress, so perhaps using constructive stress coping mechanisms would be of use here as well. Other, more specific form of anxiety disorders would be Obsessive Compulsive Disorder(OCD), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD), and Somatizing.
OCD is like a "brain skip" What happens is one track of thought keeps replaying itself over and over and over again, and clearly would be quite distracting, both for the person stuck in the "skip" and for those around the person. A common example might be the thought that your house is going to be burglarised. This would be the obsessive element. Often, the response to put this thought to rest, to "stop the brain skip" if you want, is to ritualistically check all the windows and doors before leaving for work or school. This checking is commonly done multiple times, as if to be completely certain. In this repetitive ritual behaviour, we see the compulsion.
PTSD is distress set off by perceived danger or threat, associated with some past trauma. Soldiers that seem somehow stuck in "battle" mode even after the war is over and they at home in a time of peace is a classic example. What would also fit, I would imagine, would be a firefighter having difficulties dealing with day to day life after a significant emergency like 911. What would also apply would be an adult who was sexually abused as a child having a hard time with relationships, in particular concerning sexually intimate ones. (In this scenario, they may either become supersexual and avoid real intimacy, feeling themselves unacceptable, or they may become antisexual, since that kind of connection remains somehow unpleasant) In short, it fair to say that some past trauma has left such a person "shellshocked".
SOMATIZING seems to me to be somewhat linked to, at least similar in principle to, the Law of Expectations, which basically says that in our dwelling on fretting about some impending catastrophe, we actually bring that catastrophe into fruition. A self fulfilling prophecy, if you will. The difference being that Somatization is a form of manifesting worries and anxieties into a physical ailment. Perhaps it starts as an attention getting mechanism. At any rate, the symptoms are real to the person suffering them, but no symptoms can actually be found medically. Basically, the illness or pain is all in the head. What I wonder is, can a person actually become ill by worrying about it, or Somatize an illness until it becomes genuine? Both the Law of expectation and Somatizing remind me of what some First Nation Medicine Wheels call "Rabbit Medicine" . In short, Rabbit carries the Medicine of Fear. Being prey to virtually every other animal, it makes sense. Fear it that scenario would keep one cautious and wary. However, in a contrary position, rabbit ultimately calls the wolf to himself by crying out, "please don't eat me, wolf!"
So how does one go about managing worry and anxiety? In class these were discussed, and some of them are things I make a point of applying, though originally for the sake of recovery, which once again goes back to finding alternatives to "self medication":
As far as sleeping habits are concerned, I have done a lot to that end lately. No computer or television in my room. My room is meant for sleeping. Also, I have been much better at maintaining a regular bed time, and as a result have found I wake up at about the same time each morning. Most importantly, I find I do not wake up in the night as much anymore.
All that said, I would like to leave you with a little maxim:
"There is point in worrying about what you can change, just change it and no need to worry. There is no point in worrying about what you cannot change, if you cannot change it why fret about it? let it be. Acceptance"
-Clinical Psychologist Thomas Pruzinsky,
University of Virginia
31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
-Jesus of Nazareth (Matthew 6:31-34)
Worry, fear, anxiety. These three seem to go very much hand in hand. There are subtle differences in definition, but overall they seem to have similar effects on the body, however to varying degrees, and in different amounts of time. What is also notable is how similar these health effects are to stress. What I couldn't help but consider that if someone spends a lot of time worrying, particular in the sense of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), which is a sort of free floating anxiety, that would cause no small amount of distress, so perhaps using constructive stress coping mechanisms would be of use here as well. Other, more specific form of anxiety disorders would be Obsessive Compulsive Disorder(OCD), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD), and Somatizing.
OCD is like a "brain skip" What happens is one track of thought keeps replaying itself over and over and over again, and clearly would be quite distracting, both for the person stuck in the "skip" and for those around the person. A common example might be the thought that your house is going to be burglarised. This would be the obsessive element. Often, the response to put this thought to rest, to "stop the brain skip" if you want, is to ritualistically check all the windows and doors before leaving for work or school. This checking is commonly done multiple times, as if to be completely certain. In this repetitive ritual behaviour, we see the compulsion.
PTSD is distress set off by perceived danger or threat, associated with some past trauma. Soldiers that seem somehow stuck in "battle" mode even after the war is over and they at home in a time of peace is a classic example. What would also fit, I would imagine, would be a firefighter having difficulties dealing with day to day life after a significant emergency like 911. What would also apply would be an adult who was sexually abused as a child having a hard time with relationships, in particular concerning sexually intimate ones. (In this scenario, they may either become supersexual and avoid real intimacy, feeling themselves unacceptable, or they may become antisexual, since that kind of connection remains somehow unpleasant) In short, it fair to say that some past trauma has left such a person "shellshocked".
SOMATIZING seems to me to be somewhat linked to, at least similar in principle to, the Law of Expectations, which basically says that in our dwelling on fretting about some impending catastrophe, we actually bring that catastrophe into fruition. A self fulfilling prophecy, if you will. The difference being that Somatization is a form of manifesting worries and anxieties into a physical ailment. Perhaps it starts as an attention getting mechanism. At any rate, the symptoms are real to the person suffering them, but no symptoms can actually be found medically. Basically, the illness or pain is all in the head. What I wonder is, can a person actually become ill by worrying about it, or Somatize an illness until it becomes genuine? Both the Law of expectation and Somatizing remind me of what some First Nation Medicine Wheels call "Rabbit Medicine" . In short, Rabbit carries the Medicine of Fear. Being prey to virtually every other animal, it makes sense. Fear it that scenario would keep one cautious and wary. However, in a contrary position, rabbit ultimately calls the wolf to himself by crying out, "please don't eat me, wolf!"
So how does one go about managing worry and anxiety? In class these were discussed, and some of them are things I make a point of applying, though originally for the sake of recovery, which once again goes back to finding alternatives to "self medication":
- Identify the problem, then focus on solutions rather than dwelling on the problem. Also, live in those solutions.
- Work on improving thoughts (Change thinking)
- Visualising/breathing. Take time out to catch your breath, and try to vividly visualize a success scenario instead of a failure.
- Let go of catastrophizing (Stop being a prophet of doom)
- Focus on what is going on RIGHT NOW* ("live in the now, man!!")
- Set aside a worry time.
- Establish and maintain healthy sleep habits. (regular schedule and 7-8 hours a night)
- Do not be afraid of responsible use of medication if necessary. Most are intended to be use on a temporary basis in order to aid in restoring balance in the body while other coping methods are out into practice. (No "magic pill")
As far as sleeping habits are concerned, I have done a lot to that end lately. No computer or television in my room. My room is meant for sleeping. Also, I have been much better at maintaining a regular bed time, and as a result have found I wake up at about the same time each morning. Most importantly, I find I do not wake up in the night as much anymore.
All that said, I would like to leave you with a little maxim:
"There is point in worrying about what you can change, just change it and no need to worry. There is no point in worrying about what you cannot change, if you cannot change it why fret about it? let it be. Acceptance"
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